It is official- robots are now taking over the world. Well, okay, that is not exactly true- maybe just the classroom. A robot, named Milo, created by a company named RoboKind in Dallas, TX, is not just any ordinary robot, as it costs a staggering $20,000. Melissa Satterfield, a parent of one of Jami Marks’ students, coordinated the idea to bring him to Ashland City Schools to help Autistic children perfect their social skills. Satterfield was introduced to Milo from a friend in the Make It Fit Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Columbus, OH, that specifically deals with Autistic children.

Jami Marks, the intervention specialist at Edison Elementary, explained how this experience is unique in the fact that there will be a robot helping to assist in teaching the classroom, which has never been done at Edison before.

“We have never really had robots teaching before, so I do not want to say that this robot is replacing me, but the way kids with Autism learn any new skill, even academics, is doing it in a discreet trial,” said Marks. “We may not say the same things every time, whereas the robot will. [In turn,] the kid with Autism will be able to focus more and be able to take the information in.”

Chocolate brown spiky hair, dazzling forest-green eyes, an illuminating peach complexion, a powder-blue jumpsuit with orange trim complete with a small, light up touchscreen on its stomach, Milo the robot is one of a kind. Milo dances, mimics movements, talks, engages, and also includes interactive buttons one can press. With each student, the robot conducts 20-minute sessions to make sure that the child stays actively engaged. Currently, the robot is not synced to the school’s Wi-Fi system, but the administration is hoping to have it installed soon.

Marks noted how her students will ultimately benefit from using Milo, and how the robot itself can provide assets that will help prepare them for the future.

“Milo teaches mostly social skills, so I think this is going to affect their lives by teaching them how to interact with their peers,” said Marks. “The more that they interact with their peers, the more that they can be involved.”

Julie White, a third-grade teacher at Edison Elementary, noted that she was very interested in learning more about how the robot was going to help instruct the classroom and hoped that she would have a chance to use it as well. Although as of right now, Milo will not be featured in the regular education classrooms. The robot itself will stay in Marks’ classroom with her special-education students. White acknowledged how her students love and respect Marks’ special-education students and do not view them any differently.

“My students really take to those kids, and I have a lot of helpers in my room who are constantly reading books to them or helping [them write],” said White. “I think that the [students] work really well together; I have a very caring class. I feel like it is a great mix to make everyone feel like a family. ”

The Edison Elementary faculty and staff are excited to be given this opportunity and cannot wait to see how the children adapt to using Milo throughout the school year. If successful, administrators are hoping to move Milo to various schools throughout the district. Additionally, Edison may consider getting a second robot with the proper funding.