Helping students break down academic and social barriers, more Temi robots coming to St. Clair College
The Community Integration through Cooperative Education (CICE) program at St. Clair College received a $20,000 boost Wednesday morning.
Atura Power donated the funds to help purchase two Temi robots.
“Which will support the students in overcoming some of the obstacles in their way to becoming productive and valued members of the community,” said Geoff Saunders, plant manager at Brighton Beach Power.
The two robots will join four others already in use at the college.
“It's a great tool to have in the classroom and I'm really glad we have it,” said Grace Tiessen, a student in the CICE program.
For the past few months St. Clair College has been helping students with learning challenges break down academic and social barriers with three Temi robots.
“It follows you to class. It can take notes. It's the best,” said fellow student Kyle Schauer.
Temi helps with assignments and can even help students listen to play their favourite music.
“It's helped me with different aspects of learning in the classroom from anxiety help to telling jokes.” said Tiessen.
The Temi robot is used around the world in various settings including healthcare, retail and hospitality — but St. Clair is the only known post-secondary school in Canada using them for academics.
“I've had students saying for the first time they feel that they are part of the college and a part of college life because they've integrated with other college students,” said Stephanie DeFancheschi, a CICE faculty member.
Through a national entrepreneurial program called Enactus, students in other programs also get involved.
Business administration students, marketing, our graphic design students have all been involved in different aspects of the project.
Students have created apps for the robots which in turn helped them place 2nd in an Enactus national exposition for entrepreneurs last year. They are hoping to win the competition next month.
In the meantime, faculty advisor Michael Spadotto says students are working on a mobile app to help deal with social anxiety in the classroom.
“That will remove the student from the classroom using a program that we created to help them bring down anxiety levels and then bring them back into the classroom using Temi as a tool,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.