New Intelligent Science Stations Change Maker Spaces

Carnegie Mellon University researchers developed a new type of mixed-reality platform that can help children learn basic scientific concepts while experimenting in the physical world with the help of an AI agent. Makerspaces and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) learning spaces are becoming common fixtures in schools, libraries and museums. Students of all ages can use them to learn coding, understand physics, build robots, learn sewing and more through self-led experiences with physical objects or virtual instruction on a tablet or device. But, when children interact with these tools, how much are they actually learning? Nesra Yannier , a systems scientist at CMU's Human-Computer Interaction Institute where she also received her Ph.D., and her colleagues Ken Koedinger and Scott Hudson , examined the effectiveness of learning spaces and developed a special "intelligent science station" to help improve children's ability to learn underlying scientific principles. Their research, published in the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education , showed that achieving active learning of science and engineering requires more than hands-on activity. Meet NoRILLA (Novel Research-based Intelligent Lifelong Learning Apparatus), a mixed-reality system that includes a shaking table, a friendly cartoon gorilla and an intelligent tutoring system (that can be applied to many different content areas). This intelligent science station allows children to explore the physical world while getting personalized guidance from the virtual world.