Seminar by Prof. Igor Verner
Robots as Educational Assistants
Igor Verner
Technion, Israel
Date: Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
Time: 4:00 PM
Venue: CS101.Abstract:
In this talk I propose a new paradigm for experimentation in educational robotics, beyond its traditional emphasis on building and programming mobile robots. The following features characterize robot functioning as an educational assistant: (a) the robot autonomously acts alongside with the learner, being part of the learning environment; (b) the robot carries a program of operations aimed to assist in the educational process; (c) interaction with the robot is a significant factor of the learning process. I will present three on-going studies performed within this paradigm by graduate students under my supervision. In the first study we develop and evaluate computer controlled devices for automation of manual operations in high school chemistry laboratory experiments. The second study investigates learning about natural phenomena through the construction and analogical reasoning of their robotic representations. The third study examines the principles of development of human-robot interactions for learning from exhibitions and workshops at the museum of science and technology. The potential of robotic assistants in education and the technical and pedagogical challenges of their creation will be discussed.