Holobox, robot with camera to help schools amid teacher shortage

As 68 per cent of Queensland schools struggle to fill teacher vacancies, technology means teachers are now beaming into classrooms across the state.

Futuristic hologram teachers are being beamed into remote Queensland schools as the state continues to battle with skill shortages and a lack of qualified staff in some areas.

The Courier-Mail can exclusively reveal that a senior teacher from Earnshaw State College in Brisbane’s north is regularly being beamed live into a classroom more than 1000km away to teach Year 11 maths methods and physics.

The incredible innovation is possible via an $80,000 Holobox sitting in the classroom in Moranbah State High School and a robot with cameras that zooms around to students so they can interact with the teacher.

Christine Vinaccia teaching year 11 maths via Holobox, Earnshaw State College, Banyo. Picture: Liam Kidston

A trial of the set up began in Term 4 last year and has been described as a new way to “advance” teaching.

A survey of Queensland schools conducted by the Queensland Teachers Union in term one found 68 per cent of schools had unfilled vacancies – the highest percentage of schools with teacher shortages at the start of a school year since 2020.

Moranbah State High School Principal Michelle Pole said like many remote schools Moranbah was often short of qualified teachers for specialist subjects.

Holobox in use at Moranbah State High School. Photo: Michelle Pole

“When you’re out rural you tend to get a high proportion of first-year teachers out this way,” she said.

The experiment has been so successful that last week the first Auslan lessons were taught at Moranbah via the Holobox.

Ms Pole was adamant, however, that the box could never fully replace a real-life teacher.

“I think it (the Holobox) has built the capacity of teachers. It is a developmental method but you still need the teachers in the classroom here.”

Holobox in use at Moranbah State High School. Photo: Michelle Pole

Likewise, Earnshaw State College principal Karen McKinnon sees the Holobox as a way of accessing skills that otherwise might not be available in some schools.

“Nothing can replace a teacher face-to-face in the classroom, however, (this is) using this technology to build the capability of new teachers going out into rural towns who don’t have access to professional development, who don’t have access to networking and collaboration with other teachers,” she said.

“It’s more about coaching and mentoring teachers and also about engaging students.”

Christine Vinaccia teaching year 11 maths via Holobox, Earnshaw State College, Banyo. Picture: Liam Kidston

Ms McKinnon said she first heard about the technology when she worked in Cape York for a year.

“Our pedagogy needs to change to fit in with some of this technology,” she said.

“The trial will go for about two years.”

Ms McKinnon said an in-class teacher would also be required to supervise the classroom.

“In smaller areas with smaller classes they may be a teacher aid with a certificate in education,” she said.

“They are teachers, they are beginning teachers or they are teachers or teachers who are coming into that subject for the first time,” she said.

Queensland Association of State School Principals President Kirsten Ferdinands said the holobox was meeting needs around digital innovation, how students in remote and rural areas can access teaching and learning from curriculum experts and also professional development for new and junior teachers.

“Whilst it will address teacher shortage support, support students not being disadvantaged by not having access to teachers around the state, it will also allow us to think how we can be future focused and challenge the convention of traditional classrooms with whiteboards and desks.”

A Department of Education Spokesman said the technology was being explored as a potential tool to support teachers to share specialist knowledge and build capability across our schools.

“The department will continue to review and assess emerging technologies, such as the Holobox, to identify potential opportunities and challenges they present for teaching and learning.”

“The department is supporting the school initiated Holobox pilot at Earnshaw State College in 2024 so that the school can explore the potential benefits and implications,” they said.