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Alexa, how can we use artificial intelligence in classrooms?

Tonia A. Dousay & Cassidy S. Hall

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Doceo Center for Innovation + Learning

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How do teachers and students perceive and use an artificially intelligent device in the classroom?

2

“

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Echo Project

3

Amazon

Echo Dot

Teachers & Administrators

90

K12 Students

868

4

School Districts

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Timeline

4

Jan-May 2018

Data Collection

Pre surveys, PD for 1 district, technical support for implementation

May 2018

Project Closure

Exit focus group (S)/teacher (I) interviews, post surveys, device data extraction

Sep-Nov 2017

Pilot Test

Initiated with 1 district, 3 classrooms, pre survey

Dec 2017

Project Expansion

Identified 3 additional districts, designed PD for 1 district, purchased additional devices

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Student Surveys*

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  1. Do you like robots?
  2. Is there anything about robots that bothers you?
  3. What is Alexa?^
  4. Do you think Alexa will assist your learning?
  5. Do you think Alexa knows who you are?^
  6. How do you think Alexa knows what to do?^
  7. Do you think that robots that look human should be allowed in schools?
  8. Do you think that robots should show emotions?
  9. Are you comfortable talking to a robot?
  10. Are you comfortable asking a robot for help on schoolwork?
  11. Are you comfortable talking to a robot in front of your friends?
  12. Could you be friends with a robot?
  13. Would you like a robot to grade your assignments?
  14. Could you trust a robot?
  15. Do you think that we should have robot teachers?
  16. Do you think that robots should decide things for us?
  17. Would you like a robot to record things you do and say?
  18. Would you like a robot to be able to understand your feelings based on if you look happy or sad?
  19. Do you think that robots should be punished if they do something wrong?
  20. Do you think that robots should be able to replace teachers in schools?

^Open-ended questions; others presented as yes/no

*Survey modified slightly from similar instruments used by Gerald K. LeTendre at Penn State University for similar study with Pepper robot; projects conducted in tandem for later comparison

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Teacher Surveys*

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  • What is a robot?
  • Do you think robots will assist learning in the schools?
  • What do you think that students can learn from a robot?
  • Robots will change the way classrooms work or the way schools work.^
  • The presence of a robot changes the classroom dynamics or social interactions.^
  • Do you have any moral and/or ethical concerns about student interaction with robots?
  • Are you concerned that the robot will negatively affect students’ abilities to learn?
  • Do you have any concerns about working with robots?

^Likert-like questions from strongly agree to strongly disagree, 5-point scale; all others presented as open ended

*Survey modified slightly from similar instruments used by Gerald K. LeTendre at Penn State University for similar study with Pepper robot; projects conducted in tandem for later comparison

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506 students

227 female, 253 male, 26 decline to answer

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Age

N

6

25

7

45

8

54

9

33

10

57

Age

N

11

48

12

74

13

75

14

33

15

23

Age

N

16

12

17

13

18

13

19

1

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Student Responses

Do you like robots?

56% yes

31% undecided

13% no

Do you think Alexa will assist your learning?

60% yes

29% undecided

11% no

Are you comfortable asking a robot for help on schoolwork?

79% yes

21% no

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Would you like a robot to grade your assignments?

47% yes

53% no

Could you trust a robot?

58% yes

42% no

Do you think that we should have robot teachers?

19% yes

81% no

​

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Generated from pre-survey data

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44 teachers

33 female, 11 male

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9

Exp

N

<2

1

2-5

10

6-10

6

11-20

12

>20

15

Degree

N

Bac

22

Mas

20

Doc

1

Eds

1

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Teacher Responses

Robots will change the way classrooms work or the way schools work.

7% strongly agree

24% agree

48% undecided

17% disagree

4% strongly disagree

The presence of a robot changes the classroom dynamics or social interactions.

9% strongly agree

46% agree

32% undecided

13% disagree

0% strongly disagree

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Generated from pre-survey data

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Significant Shifts

Students

  • Fewer students felt that they could trust a robot
  • Fewer students thought that we should have robot teachers

Teachers

  • More teachers agreed with the perception that a robot changes the classroom dynamics or social interactions

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Interviews

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  • What did you think about having the Echo Dot in your classroom?
  • What problems did you have using the Echo Dot?
  • What Skills or functions did you use?
  • Where did you learn about different Skills to use or try? [teachers]
  • How did you use Alexa? [students]
  • What Skills or functions do you wish Echo could do?]
  • How do you use Siri or Cortana or Google Assistant on your phone or computer?
  • Describe how you use a similar AI device at home?

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Teacher Composites

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Who

What

Music

Pandora, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music

Math

Calculations, Formulas, Conversions, “Lazy Math”

Counselor

Guided meditation, Record audio notes, Roaming device

Administrator

Check calendar, Create lists, Make calls

Elementary

“Eyes On You,” “Joke of the Day,” “Word of the Day”

Generated from teacher interview data

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Recommendations

Management

Personal accounts vs. Alexa for Business

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Disable purchasing

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Exporting history

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Wireless networks

Opportunities

Smart accessories (buttons, Muse, plugs)

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Teaching programming

Conclusions

Professional development

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Teacher attitudes

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Passive vs. active AI

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Cassidy S. Hall

Tonia A. Dousay

cassidyh@uidaho.edu

@CassidySHall

tonia@uidaho.edu�@tadousay

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