The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perceived ease of use and usefulness of an assistive robot educator tool. The theoretical foundation for this study was the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Service Robot Acceptance Model (sRAM), which explore perceptions around the utility of technological systems. The…

Educational Robotics has gained popularity in K-12 education as an effective tool to teach STEM topics and skills like computational thinking, programming, collaboration, and creativity. With rapid technological progress, educational robots have found ways into classrooms worldwide. However, challenges like the ease of use, cost, and requiring…

Computational thinking (CT) is recognized as an essential and universally applicable skill for all disciplines (Wing, 2006; Bundy, 2007). Proponents of CT acknowledge that it is integral to fostering 21st century skills such as problem-solving and higher-order thinking (Barr & Stephenson, 2011; Wing, 2006). Educational robotics activities have…

This study sought to understand the "influence of robotics on self-efficacy and interest in computer science." It provides the background that has led to the current research need. The study conducted was a double pre-test, repeated measures post-test quasi-experimental study, performed by the researcher to determine the effects of a…

This study explores the development and implementation of a five-day curriculum designed to enhance students' understanding of algebraic concepts through the integration of educational robotics and growth mindset principles. The study is structured around three research questions that investigate influences on decision-making in curriculum design,…

The purpose of this action research study was to evaluate the effect of a robotics-based intervention on empathy for students enrolled in secondary English and literature courses. Empathy, as a concept, is an integral component of reading comprehension and student motivation. A decline in reported individual levels of empathy among young adults…

Computational thinking (CT) has been supported as an important skill every young person should possess for the 21st century, with possible implications for problem-solving, self-expression, and creativity. Numerous initiatives, both within and outside classroom settings, have been developed in response to policy mandates aiming at broadening…

Social educational robotics literature indicates robots have entered the education domain with positive benefits for the learner. A key question remains: what is the lived experience of student interaction with social educational robots in the education environment? This study employed a qualitative phenomenological methodology to investigate the…

As artificial intelligence (AI) plays a more prominent role in our everyday lives, it becomes increasingly important to introduce basic AI concepts to K-12 students. Currently, most K-12 AI research focuses on introducing fundamental AI concepts using pure virtual platforms like webpages or software. However, robots, as helpful and popular tools…

Schools and businesses are realizing the importance of empathy and the role it plays in their success. The purpose of this mixed-methods action research is to assess the impact of robotics on fifth grade students' empathy towards people with disabilities. This study aimed to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the effect of using…

Technology is utilized in everyday life. As such, teachers can employ educational robots and technology to assist in growing skills in collaboration, communication, computational thinking, and problem-solving. Educational robots also appear to increase engagement and motivation in students to participate in lessons. This study employed…

This study was an action research analysis of a competitive, after-school robotics program in the Woodland Hills School District. A longitudinal quantitative analysis was used to measure the effects of the after-school program on academic achievement and student engagement in school. Grade Point Average was measured before the program began and…

Computational thinking (CT) is a critical problem-solving skill that can help students be successful in school and the 21st-century workplace (Wing, 2006). This project builds on past research showing that educational robotics can be a useful and cost-effective means to teach CT to primary school students. Past research has not yet resolved…

Grounded in empathic education and the concept of rightful presence, this study moved beyond dominant inclusion paradigms, such as the inequitable host-guest 'hospitality' relationship; crucially, the study design prioritized equitable communication access, ensuring that all participants' stories were treated with equal reverence. This qualitative…

Human beings by nature have a predisposition towards learning and the exploration of the natural world. We are intrinsically intellectual and social beings knitted with adaptive cognitive architectures. As Foot (2014) succinctly sums it up: "humans act collectively, learn by doing, and communicate in and via their actions" and they…