【高二 拓展阅读-科技】Willthe Worlds First Digital Teacher

Will,theWorld’sFirstDigitalTeacherWhilethestartofanewschoolyearisalwaysexciting，thisyearwasevenmoresoforsomeelementaryschoolstudentsinAuckland，NewZealand.Theybecametheworld'sfirstkidstobe“taught”byadigitalteacher.Beforeyoustartimaginingahuman-likerobotwalkingaroundtheclassroom，Willisjustanavatar（虚拟化身）thatpopsuponthestudent'sdesktop，tablet，orsmartphonescreen，whensummoned.AcollaborationbetweenAucklandenergycompanyVectorandAlcompanySoulMachines，theautonomousanimation（动画）platformhasbeenmodelledafterthehumanbrainandnervoussystem，allowingittodemonstratehuman-likebehaviour.ThedigitalteacheriscurrentlyassignedtoteachVector’s“BeSustainablewithEnergy”，afreeprogramforAucklandelementaryschools.Launchedin2005，theaward-winningoutreachprogram，previouslytaughtbyhumans，isdesignedtoeducatekidsaboutenergyuse，andthedifferentformsofrenewableenergysuchassolar，wind，andgeothermal（地热的）Willisabletoinstantlyreacttothestudents’responsestothetopic.Thankstoawebcamandmicrophone，theavatarnotonlyrespondstoquestionsthekidsmayhave，butalsopicksupnon-verbalcues.Forinstance,ifastudentsmilesatWill,herespondsbysmilingbackThistwo-wayinteractionnotonlyhelpscapturethestudents’attention,butalsoallowstheprogram’sdeveloperstomonitortheirengagement,andmakechangesifneeded.VectorsChiefDigitalOfficer,NikhilRavishankar,believesthatWill-likeavatarscouldbeanovelwaytograbtheattentionofthenextgeneration.Hesays,“Usingadigitalhumanisaverycompellingmethodtodelivernewinformationtopeople,andIhavealotofhopeinthistechnologyasameanstodelivercost-effective,rich,educationalexperiencesinthefuture.”GregCross,theChiefBusinessOfficerofSoulMachines,assertsthatkidswhohavegrownupinthissmartdeviceeraadapttonewtechnologyquickly,andheiseagertodeveloptheconceptofdigitalhumansintheareaofeducationfurther.Theprogram,inplacesinceAugust2018,hasbeenagreatsuccessthusfar.Ravishankarsays,“WhatwasfascinatingtomewasthereactionofthechildrentoWill.Thewaytheylookattheworldissocreativeanddifferent,andWillreallycapturedtheirattention.”Howeverregardlessofhowpopularitbecomes,Willisunlikelytoreplacehumaneducatorsanytimesoon.Forone,theavatar’sknowledgebaseisseverelyrestricted.Butmoreimportantly,eventhesmartestdigitalavatarscouldneveranticipateandreacttoalltheunexpectedsituationsthateducatorshavetodealwithonadailybasis.However,itcouldcomeinhandyasa“personaltutor”,providingkidswithone-on-onehelponspecificsubjectsoreventopics.ReadingComprehensionChoosethecorrectanswerforeachquestion.1.WhoisWill?A.Ahumanteacher.B.Ahuman-likerobot.C.Ananimationplatform.D.Anavataronthescreen.2.Whenwastheprogram“BeSustainablewithEnergy”launched?A.In2004.B.In2005.C.In2017.D.In2018.3.Whatisthefreeprogram“BeSustainablewithEnergy”designedfor?A.Educatingkidsaboutenergyuseandrenewableenergy.B.Educatingkidsabouthowtosaveenergy.C.Respondingtoquestionsthekidshaveinclass.D.Capturingthestudents’attentioninclass.4.WhoisNikhilRavishankar?A.SoulMachinesChiefBusinessOfficer.B.Adigitalteacher.C.Vector'sChiefDigitalofficer.D.Astudent.5.Whichisthemainreasonthatwillisunlikelytoreplacehumaneducatorssoon?A.Studentsarenotsoactiveinreactingtowill.B.Will’sknowledgebaseisveryrestricted.C.Willisgettingtoomuchofchildren’sattention.D.Willcannotdealwithallsituationsinclass.Vocabulary基础词digital adj.数字信息系统的，数码的；数字式的搭adigitalcamera一台数码相机platform n.（计算机）平台；站台，月台；讲台；舞台英thetypeofcomputersystemorthesoftwarethatisused记词根记忆：plat（平的）+form（形状）→形状平的地方→平台；站mode v.将…做成模型；做模特儿n.模型；样本；模范；模特儿记联想记忆：模特（mode）有不同的风格（mode）搭modelsthon/aftersth模仿，仿照nervous adj.神经系统的；紧张的；焦虑的记词根记忆：nerv（神经）+ous（…的）神经的→神经系统的；紧张的launch vt.开始从事，（积极有力地）着手进行；（首次）上市，发行；（船等）下水记联想记忆：开始（aunch）吃午餐（unch）例Thecompanymadeapromotionafterlaunchingthatnewproduct.发布那款新产品之后，该公司进行了宣传。renewable adj.能再生的；可更新的；（合同）可续签的英describesaformofenergythatcanbeproducedasquicklyasitisused记联想记忆：re（重新）+new（新的）+able（能…的）能再变新的→能再生的；可更新的solar adj.太阳的；日光的记词根记忆：sol（太阳）+ar（…的）太阳的搭solarsystem太阳系novel adj.新奇的；异常的n.（长篇）小说；长篇故事英differentfromanythingknownbefore；new，interestingandoftenseemingslightlystrange记词根记忆：nov（新的）+el→新奇的adapt v.使适应；改编记词根记忆：ad（表加强）ap适当的）使适合（使）应例Itriedhardtoadaptmyselftothenewenvironment.我努力使自己适应新环境。tutor n.导师；助教；家庭教师记词根记忆：tut（指导）+or（表人）指导的人→导师Vocabulary进阶词summon v.召晚，叫来传唤，传讯（出庭）召集，召开（会议鼓起（勇气），振作（精神）记词根记忆：sum（全部）+mon（提醒）提醒全部都来→召集demonstrate v.示范，演示；表现，显露；论证，证明；游行示威英toshowbyyouractionsthatyouhaveaparticularqualityfeelingoropinion记词根记忆：de（表加强）+mons（显示）+ate（表动词）→完全显示→表现assign vt.指派；分配；指定（时间、地点等）；布置（作业）记联想记忆：as+sign（签名）→找那个大牌明星签名的任务指派给你了→指派例Thatnovelsheassignedusissoboring.她指定我们读的那部小说特别无聊。sustainable adj.可持续的；可以忍受的；足以支撑的；养得起的来自sustain（v.维持）capture v.使感兴趣；夺取或赢得，获得；捕获，俘获n.捕获；战利品英tomakesbinterestedinsth记词根记忆：capt（抓住）+ure（表行为）捕获；获得例Theparentsusedadolltocapturetheirbabysattention.这对父母用洋娃娃来吸引宝宝的注意。grab v.吸引（某人的注意）；（随便或匆匆地）拿，抓，夺记联想记忆：螃蟹（crab）用钳子抓（grab）人搭grabtheheadlines成为头条新闻grabacoffee喝杯咖啡compelling adj.引人入胜的；很有说服力的英thatmakesyoupayattentiontoitbecauseit’sveryinterestingandexcitingassert v.断言，声称记词根记忆：as（表加强）+sert（加入，插入）→强行插入观点→断言，声称