As of July 1 this year, new rules will apply that will make it easier for students to study subjects at a higher level. Linköping is one of the municipalities that is now using the school robot AV1 to make teaching available to more students with special talents.

Logistics and lack of resources make it difficult to adapt sufficiently

The new rules that came into effect on July 1 this year clarify, among other things, that the principal can let a student in primary school take courses at upper secondary school and take grades at a higher level, and distance learning is highlighted as a possible method. It has been known for a long time that high-achieving students and students with special talents need stimulation, role models and adaptations, and many municipalities have ready-made action plans. But challenges around logistics and resources risk putting obstacles in the way of effective and individual adaptations.

A student in year five who needs to study mathematics at upper secondary level may, for example, have to go by bus to a school on the other side of the municipality and thus miss teaching in other subjects that she may not find as easy. It is also not obvious that children are comfortable entering a strange classroom with older students and teachers they do not know.

Uses school robot to enable teaching from another location

In order to find effective and practically feasible solutions for students who need to read courses at a higher level, several municipalities have started to look at digital solutions as part of their strategies. Linköping was recently named Europe's most innovative city, and the municipality's venture with the school robot AV1 is highlighted as an example of the municipality's innovative initiative.

The robots have had a very positive effect on both attendance and well-being. Several students with high absenteeism have been strengthened and encouraged and managed to get back after being able to "remain" in the classroom virtually and participate in the lessons for a while, says Erik Helmersson on the municipality's website.

Less logistics when the student can remain in his social environment

In Linköping, AV1 is offered to students with long-term illness and problematic school absences, but for some time now, the robots have also been used to give particularly gifted students the opportunity to participate in teaching at a higher level without having to leave their home school.

When it comes to physical illness, it is above all about the social aspect, that for a limited time you can maintain contact with friends and not fall behind in school work. For students with special talents, it primarily concerns logistics, Erik continues.

In an email, Erik explains how the use can go to:

One of our middle school students who used AV1 could not transfer to a high school for his mathematics enrichment for several reasons. Through AV1, she was able to be challenged at the right mathematical level, practice communication with the teacher via chat and email and also became familiar with the school, which made her feel confident enough to apply there to upper secondary school. We wish it to be just as successful for all our students!

Now your municipality can test AV1 for students with special talents. Register your interest here.

Student participates via the school robot, the teacher teaches as usual,

The concept is relatively simple and less resource-demanding than other solutions. An AV1 robot is placed in the classroom where the teaching is to take place, for example at a high school, and the student connects via the AV1 app from a room at the home school. The teacher at the secondary school then conducts the teaching as usual, while the student follows the teaching, interacts with the teacher and participates in group discussions via the robot. When the lesson is over, the student can return to their classroom and spend the day with their classmates and teachers.

Pilot projects with more municipalities will contribute to increased knowledge

During the fall semester, No Isolation organizes several pilot projects with Swedish municipalities that want to explore the possibilities of this concept. The projects will contribute to developing a Swedish best practice for the use of school robots in order to offer stimulation and inclusion for students with special talents. The projects are carried out in close dialogue with researchers and experts in the field, and No Isolation hopes to contribute to increased knowledge about these students and their needs.

Part of the solution

All students deserve and have the right to a safe and stimulating schooling. Pupils with special talents are particularly vulnerable and a large percentage sooner or later end up with long-term absence problems. With AV1 as an innovative, simple and effective part of the solution, No Isolation wants to help Swedish municipalities create inspiring teaching for their students and contribute to ensuring that all children want and can come to school.

‍Contact us for more information on how you can use AV1 to help students reach their goals, get physically to school and be included in the community.