The future is here -- in the form of an egg-shaped robot on wheels, sent to mold the minds of young Korean children.

The Korean Education Ministry would like all kindergarteners in Korea to have penguin-sized robotic English instructors by the end of 2013, according to the New York Times.  

The robotic instructor, named EngKey, was developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and introduced to Korean kindergarten classrooms over the summer.  The robot project is supposed to lower the cost of hiring human English teachers. Korea is one of the largest importers of native-English speaking teachers from around the world, but humans are costly to employ.  The scientists who created EngKey are still working out the kinks, but the goal is to eventually replace native-English speakers in the classroom. 

According to a New York Times classroom observation, “One type of robot, toddler-size with a domed head and boxlike body on wheels, takes attendance, reads fairy tales and sings songs with children. A smaller puppy robot helps leads gymnastics and flashes red eyes if touched too roughly.” 

24-year-old Ariane Williams just finished teaching English for two years in Japan, and believes that there are certain things that a robotic instructor could handle.  “A lot of the more concrete work I did in the classroom could have been performed by a robot. Sometimes non-native English teachers were insecure about their pronunciation or fluency, and had me simply read lessons aloud--many assistant language teachers even complain about feeling like tape recorders. All kinds of games and pronunciation exercises could be performed by robots to take stress off the main teacher,” said Williams.

However, Williams pointed out that the goal of learning English isn’t just correct pronunciation and language fluency, but also gaining awareness of another culture.  “In rural Japan--and probably in parts of Korea as well--children aren't exposed to many people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. A kid who meets a foreign teacher in an English class, plays games with her, gets to ask her questions about her home, is a kid who is more likely to become an accepting and adaptable adult. Teaching younger generations to be comfortable with robots is an excellent goal, but surely it's at least as important to teach them to be comfortable with people of varied backgrounds, especially since increased dependence on technology goes hand in hand with globalization,” said Williams.

In preparation for the spookiest night of the year, zombies from all over the world will rise from the dead... and get down to Michael Jackson’s "Thriller."  That’s right.  “Thrill the World” - the annual worldwide simultaneous execution of MJ's famous “Thriller” dance takes place on October 23. 

Last year, the Thrill the World event broke the world record for the most people simultaneously dancing to "Thriller" (see video below).  This year, creator Ines Markelle wants one million dancers to participate. Markelle began Thrill the World in Canada, and it has spread all over the world. According to the Thrill the World website, Markelle began dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" at age three.   

Amada Anderson started the Thrill the World New York City team in April, 2009.  She stumbled upon the event through a YouTube video.  “Last year in January, I wanted to do an exercise regime," she said. "I decided I was going to learn Thriller after I saw the movie ‘Thirteen Going on Thirty.'  So I started searching on YouTube for a video of the dance.  I found a video made by this girl in Canada, Ines Markelle, who organizes Thrill the World.  I ordered the DVD that she created and I started learning the dance.”  

After that, Amada’s interest was thoroughly peaked.  “Eventually I registered with Ines, so that I could start my own Thrill the World event in NYC.  I recruited volunteers from Facebook and Craigslist.  I quickly learned the ropes of New York City permits, and began getting sponsorship from Halloween stores.”

Last year, Anderson held Thrill the World NYC in Astoria, Queens.  Because it was their first time, they ran into a few difficulties.  “It was pouring rain!” said Anderson.  “We only had about 100 dancers, and I ended up paying a lot of money out of pocket.” But, worldwide, Thrill the World raised about $50,000 for charity.

After that, Anderson began designing a website and getting sponsorships from dance studios in New York. Everyone pays $20 to register their event, and they have the choice of directing the money they raise towards a charity. 

“If two nerds ever find themselves holding cylindrical objects of at least 9 inches in length they must immediately make lightsaber ignition noises and face each other down in mortal combat. --Bronson”

Thus reads the tenth Nerd Commandment, according to a list of 20  nerd commandments published on Topless Robot. Now imagine 300 people all making lightsaber noises at the same time.  Welcome to Nerdnite.

Nerdnites (self-described as the Discovery Channel... with beer) are get togethers for people who want to learn something new, in a social setting. Short lectures on anything from quantum physics to the art of sharpening knives are presented as people mingle, drink, socialize, and learn.

Patrick Gruban started a Nerd Nite tradition in Munich, Germany. (Note: while the American term is one word, the German version is two.) According to an article from the Goethe-Institut, he defines a nerd as, “someone who has put the time and effort into learning a specific subject well enough to have a wealth of knowledge about it that the average person wouldn’t have.”

Dollars. Moolah. Franklins. Cash. Whatever you call it...everyone has an opinion on money. 

So what do teens have to say about spending, saving, and the economy? Find out by watching Youth Radio's Making Cents--A monthly video collaboration with Marketplace where teens talk money...

Episode 1's question to teens: What financial habit did you pick up from your parents?
 

As heard on NPR's All Things Considered.

For nearly a thousand years the Hopi people have lived on the same three mesas, land now considered part of northeastern Arizona.  For all that while they have been speaking the Hopi language, but now everyone says the language is dying.  There are many hurdles standing in the way of preserving Hopi -- the great distances between each of the eleven villages, the distinct dialects in each of those villages, and for Hopi teens, the choice between preserving the Hopi culture or adopting a modern lifestyle.

In order of appearance: Austin Coochyamptewa, Alrye Polequaptewa, Leandra Calnimptewa, Paul Quamahongnewa, Annalese Nasafotie, Paul Quamahongnewa, Eloise Coochyamptewa, Leon Koruh, Rochelle Lomayaktewa, DeAnn Honanie.

 Special Thanks to the Hopi High School Radio and Journalism Classes.

 A complete transcipt of the story as it aired is availible after the jump...