This fall, the Salamanca Central School District in New York will introduce a humanoid robot named Sally to assist in high school programming, robotics, and AI courses. Priced at approximately $57,600, Sally is designed to support teachers rather than replace them, encouraging independent thinking among students.
Sally, developed by Realbotix, features silicone skin, realistic facial features, and movable arms and fingers, although her legs are fixed and she cannot walk. The district has requested that Sally speak with a local Western New York accent to enhance communication, which officials describe as 'fairly neutral' for locals.
Sally will serve 11th and 12th-grade students using the Woz Ed STEAM curriculum created by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. While the district emphasizes that Sally will not collect personal data or record audio or video, the introduction of such technology has sparked debate about the appropriateness of humanoid robots in classrooms, particularly in underserved districts.
Editor's Note
The introduction of humanoid robots like Sally in educational settings raises important questions about technology adoption in schools. As educators navigate the integration of AI and robotics, the focus will be on how these tools can enhance learning without undermining the human element of teaching. The ongoing discussions around Sally's role highlight the complexities of balancing innovation with traditional educational values.
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