Stephen Downes

It's another story about robot teachers. "La Trobe University has teamed up with Waratah Special Developmental School in Victoria to trial a robot called Matilda as a classroom companion for students with special needs...  at a time when the implementation of robotics and coding technology in schools... has become a growing and controversial trend in education across North America and Europe." It's not clear where the limits will be for robot teachers. "Matilda can recognise human voices and faces, detect emotions, read and recite text, dance, and play music." The story also notes that "a robot teacher is also being trialled to help students living in isolated locations, ABC News reported in June." Image: La Trobe.