08 – Amazon Echo: The Next Classroom Assistant?

EdTech You Should Know – Episode 8 – Amazon Echo: The Next Classroom Assistant?

[etysk]

Below is a transcript of the show:

Alexa, remind me to play the show intro in 30 seconds. Amazon has recently announced a gadget that may end up being a worthy classroom assistant. Speak naturally to set reminders, add to lists, play music, and pull information. Today on the show we will be looking at how this new device may further classroom automation. **Jeff, it’s time to play the show intro.** Here we go.

Welcome to the show, I’m Jeff Herb. If this is your first time listening, please check the show’s archives at etysk.com or on iTunes at etysk.com/itunes. If you’re a regular listener, thanks for coming back!

Recently Amazon announced the impending release of their newest product, the Amazon Echo. As a completely new product line (that isn’t yet released), it is still an unknown to many, but it has already gotten me thinking about its uses in education.

The Echo seems to be a pretty robust device, featuring the ability to ask for information and get a response (stemming mostly from Wikipedia and Amazon Web Services), create alarms, to-do lists, and queue up music. Amazon has left it relatively vague as to what else will be added to its repertoire, but this is a pretty strong starting point and there is only more to come.

Here is how it works:

The Echo is always listening, waiting for your command to prepare, deliver, or retain information. As soon as you say the ‘go’ word, “Alexa,” Echo will listen and process any command it is given (assuming it falls within its abilities). Ask it questions or give it commands such as (as listed on Amazon’s site):

• “Set an alarm for...” (timer/alarm)
• “How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon” (calculations)
• “Wikipedia: Abraham Lincoln” (search and get info from Wikipedia)
• “Play [song,playlist]” (start/stop music)
• “Add _____ to my to-do list” (generate to-do list)
• “When is...” (recall dates)
• and more...

The Echo has a robust speaker in it that will allow it to fill the room with the response or the music that you’ve asked it to play. The 7 microphones that are built in all have noise canceling, making it possible for you to make requests in a lot of noise or while music is playing.

How It Helps Classrooms/Teachers

As we know, things happen quickly in the course of a typical class period and lesson. A tool like this could help in the following ways:

• Ask Echo to remember things to revisit later in the class period when they are more relevant. “Remind me to discuss sentence syntax”
• Ask Echo to remind the class when a specific assignment is due (pulling from a connected calendar): “When is Paper 1 Due?”
• Set timers/alarms for specific tasks (group work, quiz, individual work, etc.): “Set an alarm for 15 minutes from now.”
• Get real-time access to supplemental information that can enhance understanding or background information: “Wikipedia: The Battle of Hastings”
• Play/Pause music in the classroom just by asking for it: “Play Period 1 playlist”

This product is not yet available for purchase, but you can request an invite on the Amazon Echo product site here. That’ll do it for this weeks episode. If you have an EdTech tool you’d like to share on the show, please head over to etysk.com/record and leave me a voice message. Your message may be played on a future episode of the show! Until next time, I’m Jeff Herb – thanks for tuning in.