Technology has become an essential part of our daily lives, and it has also made significant inroads into education. With the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning, educators have been exploring new ways to enhance learning for students with disabilities. In a recent study conducted by the University of Waterloo and the Learning Disabilities Society in Vancouver, social robots have been found to be a promising tool for students with learning disabilities.
The study, led by Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, involved testing a small humanoid robot called QT on 16 students with learning disabilities. The researchers divided the students into two groups. In one group, students worked one-on-one with an instructor only. In the other group, the students worked one-on-one with an instructor and a QT robot.
The robot’s ability to perform gestures using its head and hands, accompanied by its speech and facial features, makes it very suitable for use with children with learning disabilities. The robot was controlled by the instructor using a tablet, which directed the robot to autonomously perform various activities using its speech and gestures. The instructor triggered the robot to lead the student, who introduced the session, set goals, and provided self-regulating strategies if necessary.
The robot also used strategies such as games, riddles, jokes, breathing exercises, and physical movements to redirect the student back to the task if the learning process was getting off-track. Students who worked with the robot were “generally more engaged with their tasks and could complete their tasks at a higher rate compared” to the students who weren’t assisted by a robot.
The researchers concluded that the use of robots in public education systems has great potential, and the findings imply that robots have a positive effect on students. Dr. Dautenhahn has been working on robotics in the context of disability for many years and incorporates principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity in research projects.
While most research on the use of social robots in education has focused on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, little work has been done on the use of socially assistive robots for students with learning disabilities. The researchers plan to conduct further studies using the QT robot and explore its potential for enhancing learning for students with disabilities.
In conclusion, social robots have the potential to revolutionize the way we approach education for students with learning disabilities. By providing additional learning support, such as one-on-one instruction, and using the latest technology, such as social robots, educators can create a more engaging and effective learning experience for students with disabilities. With further research and development, social robots could become a valuable tool in the classroom, helping students with disabilities achieve their full potential.
Vahid Ghattavi 