“We’re doing a Power of 4! “Before the bell announcing the start of class rings, Ismaël and Raphaël, two pupils from the Mario-Roustan elementary school, in Castelnau-le-Lez (Hérault), pass the time, trying to align four pawns of the same color. However, if Raphaël is well at school, Ismaël, who suffers from a pathology preventing him from being educated full-time, stayed at home this morning. But the two friends can chat and play together as if they were in the same room.
This feat is possible thanks to Ted-i, a telepresence robot, equipped with a screen and wheels, which is tested in several schools in France, by the National Education. “Ishmael is at home, and he pilots the robot with a joystick! “, as if he were in class, details his comrade. Once, he even “rolled over my feet!” “Laughs another. So obviously, this morning, as always, Ishmael is very “happy”, he says, to be able to see the reels of his little comrades, even if he is far from them.
It’s “Law Enforcement 2005”
“The challenge of Ted-i is to provide an educational offer to children who do not have the possibility, because of their illness, to be physically present in their school, explains Christophe Mauny, the director academic service of National Education (Dasen) of Hérault. However, the child is connected to the robot for a short time during the day. This system is necessarily supplemented by the intervention of voluntary teachers, via the Sapad (Home-based educational assistance service). »
Beyond their pedagogical interest, these robots are also a way for the disabled child to maintain a social bond with his classmates, “that there is no feeling of isolation”, confides Christophe Mauny . This device is “the application of the law of 2005”, on the inclusion in school of children with disabilities, rejoices Frédéric Lafforgue (LR), the mayor of Castelnau-le-Lez. Three types of robots have been tested in recent months by the National Education services: for primary school children, for middle school students and for high school students. Depending on the levels, and the specifics of the lessons, these droids have more or less complex functions.
In 2022, National Education also sent Ted-i to Ukraine, so that Ukrainian children, hosted in France, maintain a link with schools in their country.