ANDOVER — A robotics whiz kid from China visited Greater Lawrence Technical School yesterday, but he didn't have to travel halfway across the world. Liu Huan spoke to students from his bedroom via a webcast, with his face displayed on a screen and his voice coming out of computer speakers. They discussed a project they're collaborating on to build a robotic receptionist that will greet people at the school.

"This is the classroom of the future," said John Galinato, who coordinates the partnership between Greater Lawrence and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Huan, who will attend MIT in the fall, designed the software that allows a personal computer and a small processor to work together to control the robot's functions, including talking. The 20 Greater Lawrence 11th-graders are using LEGO pieces, motors and gears to build the robot and its moving parts.

They started the project last month. By the end of the year, they hope to have the robot giving directions to visitors, playing games with them and singing songs.

"It also has a candy dispenser that we're working on," Alan Ramos said.

Ramos' favorite part of the project has been the hands-on work putting the robot's parts together. He didn't know you could build such high-tech creations with LEGO, he said.

For other students, including Brian Jaime, figuring out what makes the robot move is the best part.

"I like the part of programming, designing what it can do," he said.

And Manny Viloegas learned that "we could build on other people's ideas, so we don't have to complicate our own project," he said. The students will use Huan's technology to power their robot, and even its name, R4D4, is a variation on the name of the "Star Wars" character. R4D4 stands for Reggie Regional Robotic Receptionist Discovery Design Development Deployment.

Superintendent Frank Vacirca has been asking for a robotic receptionist for years after hearing about one at Carnegie Mellon University.

"I thought it would be novel, and I thought it would be useful technology," he said. "It would be something unique for us to do."

Vacirca will retire at the end of this year, so "we said, well, before he leaves, we might as well start," teacher Angelo Bittarelli said. "Next year, the junior class coming up can expand the project."

The robotic receptionist is the fifth robot project for Greater Lawrence students. In the past they have built Bionic Benny, who simulated the effects of alcohol abuse, a human heart simulator and a game to help students study for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests.

"The students are having fun because they are engaged working with their hands and doing something they like," Bittarelli said.