Meet Tyler! He is 6 years old and 1st grader in my town (He is on the RIGHT of the robot). He is being taught at home at the moment because he has Burkett's Lymphoma. He has already gone through a slew of medical tests and a couple rounds of chemo. Just this week he took the plunge and got that sharp buzz haircut. You think that is exciting? That doesn't even come CLOSE to what I'm about to tell you!
How is it possible to be 6 and have so many friends that you can't be around because you might catch their cold or get their cough? Valentine's Day has come and gone and the Blue and White Boy Scout banquet have come and gone...without Tyler being there. Such a bummer!! But see the smile on this kiddo? It is SO infectious!! SO infectious that this adorable robot has found its' way into Tyler's school! He is going to take Tyler's place for a little while as Tyler goes through his treatments.
Check this thing out! It has already made it's way through the school, through classrooms, has met the principal, the teachers, and the kids! Tyler will be able to stay at home where he is safe and Robot will go to his classes for him!
The robot has just made it's way to the school today so we don't have a full report yet, but Tyler would love to hear your questions and answer them! Ready? Set! GO!
I have the first question!! What is your robot's name?
ReplyDeleteHis name is Tyler because he is me!
DeleteWhat do you like most about your robot? I think it is the coolest thing in the world...next to you!!
ReplyDeleteI think it is cool because I finally get to go back to school.
DeleteWhen I was in fourth grade, I was sick, too. I had to miss a lot of school in 4th and 5th grades. I so wish I had a cool robot like you have! You rock, Tyler!
DeleteHi Tyler! It's very cool that you have a robot helping you so you don't miss school! I have a question. Can your robot carry on a conversation? How does it work?
ReplyDeleteWell,my robot talks but it can only say what I say. I can either talk and my class hears my voice or I can type it and they will hear a lady robot voice.
DeleteHow did you get the robot? I've seen it on commercials but never know someone who really had one attending class for them that is soo cool! (this is from Mrs Delafosse's sister who is also a teacher...good luck to you Tyler!!!! )
ReplyDeleteMr. Faith our technology person for our district is a really cool guy and he knew that our region had 6. He made some calls and made sure I could get one. The technology people that work with him worked hard getting my VGo and my laptop all set up for me. I can't wait to start using it after Spring Break!
DeleteDo you think Mrs. Delafosse and I could get one to teach our classes from home? That would be fun, I think!
ReplyDeleteYessss, that would totally work! :-)
DeleteDoes the robot go everywhere your class does? Gym? Music?
ReplyDeleteMy Kinder-Garden
The technology guys said they weren't sure on that. We are going to start with a few hours in the classroom then we will see. I think it would be really cool if it would go outside for recess and lunch too!
DeleteHi Tyler, That is awesome. I'm from Australia and have never heard of anything as cool as this. Do you get to choose what your robot wears to school - like dress your robot? Can you talk through your robot and do your classmates see you on the screen? Unfortunately I don't think your robot gets you out of doing homework does it ... that would be a great excuse.
ReplyDeletepsssttt... Tyler... make sure to click on the icon for the Teachers Toolbox...she has one craa-a-a-a-a-a-zy background on her blog!! LOL I know you'll get a kick out of it!
DeleteJo (Tiny Toes)
We did choose for him to wear one of my Team Tyler shirts! I'm not sure if he will change clothes again. Maybe I will get my mom to go change his shirt and surprise my class one day!
DeleteMy classmates will see my face on the screen like facetime on an iphone and I will see them on my laptop.
My mom and teacher says I still have to do my homework!
Hi Tyler! Having a robot is super cool! Where does your robot go at night? Does he get to "sleep" at school? How much fun would that be? Maybe he goes around the school at night and has fun adventures in other grades! What would you do if you got to sleep at school and have adventures at night?
ReplyDeleteLaura ~ First Grade Spies
My robot gets to go to his dock at night in his special room at our school. They close all the doors to the room so he can't escape though. I was hoping we could go play at night and have some adventures! If I had adventures at night at school I would change the lunch menu to have hotdogs everyday and eat popsicles from the freezer and find some oil for my robot!
DeleteHi Tyler. Wow, I have never seen a real robot before! Does your robot stand by your desk in class? When one of your classmates speaks in class, does the robot turn so he can see your classmate? I hope you get to go back to school yourself soon!
ReplyDeleteMargie
I'm not sure where he will stand yet. I get to control him from my laptop so I will have to learn how to tell who is talking so I can turn him to look at that person.
DeleteMy students and I read about VGo in Scholastic and are really excited to hear about a real one! What is the most difficult thing about using the robot? My students were worried that he would run into things at school. Does that happen?
ReplyDeleteAmy
Eclectic Educating
The most difficult thing is that wifi isn't perfect and the robot needs a really good wifi connection so it sometimes will cut me off and I have to connect again.
DeleteThe robot does run into things sometimes but I am getting to be a better driver. I'm sorry it took so long to answer you. We forgot to check for more questions until today.
Hi Tyler!
ReplyDeleteYour robot is very cool! Can you drive him around like a remote control car? If so, can you see where you are going pretty well? I know you must miss your friends at school, but at least this is the next best thing to being there in person. Hope you get to go back to school as yourself soon!
Best wishes,
Deborah
It doesn't drive exactly like a remote control car. I use the arrows on the laptop keypad to go forward, backwards and side to side. It also has a camera and I can use the a and s keys to move the camera up and down to help me see better. I won't get to go back to school this year but I really wish I could. I am so glad I can see my friends through the robot though!
ReplyDeleteThat's so neat! I am so glad you were able to get a robot to help you keep up with your friends and your schoolwork. You are a trooper! Hope you get through all your treatments soon so you can go back next year! Best wishes, Deborah
ReplyDeleteThis is a cool use of technology! Can you update us on how both Tylers are doing?
ReplyDelete