Abstract:
The JUSThink project at EPFL’s CHILI lab aims to enhance children’s computational thinking by practicing algorithmic reasoning through interactive exercises with QTrobot. The project involves children working on tasks under the guidance of an observer, evaluating the robot’s effectiveness in conveying new knowledge and its impact on motivation and collaboration. QTrobot, in this context, serves as both a learning assistant and a facilitator, helping children engage more deeply with the educational material.
In the JUSThink project, QTrobot plays a pivotal role in a collaborative game where children build a railway network between gold mines in Switzerland. Initially, QTrobot is a passive presence, but it gradually becomes more active, providing suggestions and prompting discussions among the children. This progression from passive to active engagement helps assess how the robot can enhance children’s learning experiences and foster better collaboration between peers.
The study, which included 100 children from two schools, found that QTrobot’s presence positively influences learning, even with minimal direct intervention. The findings indicate that the more engaged children are in the activities, the more they learn. These insights are crucial for adapting QTrobot’s behavior to maximize engagement and learning outcomes in various educational settings, demonstrating the potential of robots to significantly improve educational experiences for children with special needs.
Reference:
https://www.epfl.ch/labs/chili/index-html/research/animatas/justhink/