Intelligent Robotics Platform Empowers Students and Teachers to Build AI Literacy

By Muhammad OsamaReviewed by Joel ScanlonOct 30 2024

Using the Robobo Project, educators can now bring AI to life in the classroom, enabling students to tackle real-world challenges and master core AI skills through interactive learning.

Research: Education in the AI era: a long-term classroom technology based on intelligent robotics

An article recently published in the journal Humanities & Social Sciences Communications explored the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, focusing specifically on developing AI literacy through intelligent robotics. It investigated how AI tools can transform traditional educational methods and the evolving role of teachers in this landscape.

The researchers emphasized the need for both educators and students to understand core AI concepts to navigate the upcoming technological revolution effectively. They proposed a comprehensive approach to incorporating AI literacy into educational curricula, addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by this integration and ensuring both students and teachers are equipped with the knowledge to adapt to AI-driven changes in educational environments.

Role of AI in Modern Education

Recent developments in AI are significantly impacting various sectors, including education. With AI technologies increasingly capable of autonomous decision-making, traditional teaching methods require reevaluation. The AI in Education (AIEd) community emphasizes the importance of developing AI literacy to equip teachers and students with the essential skills to navigate and effectively use AI.

This includes understanding key AI concepts outlined in the AI4K12 guidelines, such as perception, representation, reasoning, learning, and AI's broader societal impact. The Robobo Project, a flexible educational platform based on intelligent robotics, aims to support AI literacy across different educational levels, from secondary school (K12) to higher education.

Robobo Project: A Tool for AI Literacy

In this paper, the authors focused on the innovative Robobo robot, an educational tool designed to enhance AI literacy through intelligent robotics. The Robobo robot combines affordability with versatility, offering educators a platform to teach a range of AI topics. This project features a mobile robot equipped with a smartphone, which offers advanced sensing, actuation, connectivity, and computational capabilities.

The Robobo includes a variety of sensors and actuators, such as a camera, microphone, tactile screen, distance sensors, and actuators like motors and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Its software architecture supports multiple programming languages, including Scratch for younger students and Python for advanced learners. The project also includes a dedicated simulator, RoboboSim, enabling students to test their programs in a virtual environment before transferring them to the physical robot.

The methodology combines educational and engineering approaches. The Robobo Project’s development followed a classical engineering cycle, while the educational materials were created using a design research methodology. Its teaching units (TUs) align with the latest AI literacy standards and cover topics like perception, natural interaction, reinforcement learning, and ethical and legal aspects of AI. Additionally, the project uses a Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach, engaging students in real-world challenges through hands-on experiences with the Robobo robot.

Key Findings and Insights

Over six years, validation outcomes were gathered from the use of the Robobo Project in various educational settings. The results showed that in secondary schools, the project was used to teach AI fundamentals through a series of TUs. Both teachers and students reported positive experiences, citing the robot’s capabilities in computer vision and human-robot interaction as especially engaging.

In higher education, the Robobo Project was integrated into intelligent and mobile robotics courses. Students appreciated the robot’s range of features, particularly its support of concepts like natural interaction, computer vision, and reinforcement learning.

Students valued the hands-on experience Robobo offered, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges. They noted the advantage of working with Python programming, and the RoboboSim simulator was seen as a helpful tool for testing and refining their programs.

The study also identified challenges, such as the need for greater teacher training in AI topics and addressing the integration of AI education within existing curricula, which varied across educational institutions. Nonetheless, the project received high marks, with students demonstrating a solid understanding of AI concepts and showing increased interest in the field.

Applications

The Robobo Project has many practical applications in education. It offers a complete platform for teaching AI literacy, allowing students to gain valuable hands-on experience with intelligent robotics. The project accommodates a broad range of educational levels, from secondary school to higher education, and can be adapted to different learning goals.

Using a smartphone as the robot's control unit helps reduce costs and encourages the positive use of personal devices in the classroom. Furthermore, the RoboboSim simulator creates adaptable learning environments, allowing students to practice programming and problem-solving in both virtual and real-world contexts.

Conclusion

In summary, the study found that the Robobo Project represents a significant step forward in integrating AI into education. By offering a flexible and accessible platform for AI literacy, the project addresses a critical need for updated teaching methods in the AI era. The study's findings highlight the effectiveness of using intelligent robotics to teach essential AI concepts, with both teacher and student feedback reflecting the project’s impact.

Future work should focus on developing additional educational materials, enhancing teacher support, and addressing the identified challenges, particularly in adapting the Robobo Project to a wider array of academic settings. Overall, the Robobo Project sets an important example for the long-term integration of AI in education, preparing students for a future where AI is central to many aspects of life.