Traditional telepresence classrooms are expensive to implement and often require technical and instructional support to successfully translate an instructor's pedagogy. There is often an engagement gap when comparing the level of participation and curiosity exhibited by the distant student and their resident peers. A second issue is that students enrolled in a fully supported telepresent class are often enrolled in other courses that don’t take place in rooms equipped for their needs. Our team is exploring a mix of technologies that will allow distance students to engage with their instructor, peers, and course material in a standard classroom using an inexpensive, portable telerobotics platform. We hope to close the engagement gap by placing these robots among the resident students and in the direct line-of-sight of the instructor thus reducing distraction for the resident students and allowing the instructor to react to non-verbal cues exhibited by the distance students.

1. BRIDGING THE ENGAGEMENT GAP FOR
DISTANCE STUDENTS THROUGH TELEROBOTICS
Michael Griffith, MS
University of Arizona
Marcus Rosenthal, CEO
Revolve Robotics
Marci M. Powell, CEO
USDLA Chair Emerita and Past
President

2. Our Challenge
2
How can we provide accessibility for distance students to
participate with a high level of independent control in
traditional face-to-face synchronous classes allowing them to
engage in both the formal and informal learning activities.

3. 3
Traditional Telepresence Instruction

4. 4
Critical Success Factors
Provide an active social presence for students at a distance in
traditional classes (and classrooms)
Provide for real-time collaboration and immediate feedback
loops as if the distance students are in-person
Gracefully transition from one learning modality to the next

5. Special Education Graduate Course With Multiple Kubi In Use
5
Kubi and the Whole Class

6. Students In Special Education Work Collaboratively On A Presentation
6
Kubi and the Small Group

7. Distance Student Socializes In The Hall With Classmates Before Special Education Class
7
Kubi in the Hallway!

8. 8
Kubi Telerobotic Device
• iPad Mini Gen 3
• Kubi Robot
• Microphone Stand
• Mic Stand Adapter

9. 9

10. 10
Review of Critical Success Factors
Provide an active social presence for students at a distance in
traditional classes (and classrooms)
Provide real-time collaboration and immediate feedback loops
as if they are in person
Gracefully transition from one learning modality to the next

11. 11
Results
Faculty have called the new tools “transformative”
Resident students are requesting Kubi when they are sick,
traveling, or have a need to be away from campus
Students and faculty are discovering their own use cases and
are requesting the Kubi