This paper explores an approach which engages first-year industrial engineering students in teleo... more This paper explores an approach which engages first-year industrial engineering students in teleoperating robot manipulators and how this practice can contribute to the development of their spatial awareness. We analyzed the spatial constraints of teleoperation such as exocentric viewing, limited viewshed, and delayed visual feedback, and used them for training students. A robot operation workshop has been conducted in two versions of learning practice: one in direct operation of robots in the lab, and the other in remote control of the robots from the computer class. Students' reflections on the workshop contribution to their spatial awareness, exposure to industrial robotics, and interest to study it were compared. As found, evaluations of the students who teleoperated robots were significantly higher for all three contribution factors. For students of the teleoperation group the major difficulty was in exocentric viewing, but providing the opportunity to manipulate physical o...
There is growing interest to the use of robots in science museums for demonstration of technologi... more There is growing interest to the use of robots in science museums for demonstration of technological innovations and introducingthe principles of human-robot interaction. This paper considers the educational robotics programs developed at MadaTech incollaboration with the Technion, aimed to promote public understanding of robots, motivate young people to study robotics, andfoster excellence in technology and science education. The robot theatre performances and the OlympiYeda competition of theMadaTech 2010 Robotics Year are analyzed. The characteristic features of the programs such as learning in a rich environment,learning through interactive robot demonstration, and learning in a diverse community are evaluated.
This paper considers a science lesson given through mediation of the humanoid RoboThespian to gro... more This paper considers a science lesson given through mediation of the humanoid RoboThespian to groups of school students (grades 5–7) at the science museum MadaTech. The lesson included theoretical explanations, handson experiments, and a knowledge quiz, all instructed and managed by means of the robot-teacher through programmed behaviors and remote teleoperation. We present the lesson design and implementation in two settings with different characteristics of teacher immediacy, discuss students’ outcomes and perceptions. The study shows the feasibility of using robotic assistants in science classes and uncovers the factors that influence learning in such settings.
International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 2019
This study explores an opportunity to engage first-year engineering students in practice with a m... more This study explores an opportunity to engage first-year engineering students in practice with a modern industrial robot Baxter and provides training in spatial skills. We developed a laboratory exercise in which the students operate the robot to perform spatial manipulations of objects. We implemented the exercise on a digital twin of Baxter in the Gazebo virtual environment. The digital twin was calibrated to mimic the physical properties of the Baxter and correctly simulate its spatial manipulations with oriented cubes. The exercise was delivered to a class of 25 students as part of the robotics workshop in the Introduction to Industrial Engineering course. We administered a post-workshop questionnaire with focus on the analysis of the learning outcomes and students' spatial difficulties. The students noted that the workshop and particularly the exercise effectively exposed them to industrial robotics and raised their spatial awareness in robot operation.
Our study proposes an approach based on learning through interaction with robots. We investigated... more Our study proposes an approach based on learning through interaction with robots. We investigated how this approach can contribute to the development of systems thinking skills in elementary school students. 346 students of 2nd to 4th grades participated in the workshop “Animal-like robots” conducted at MadaTech. The workshop activities focused on inquiry and design of robot behaviors. We evaluated students’ performance of the workshop tasks and found indications of significant progress in the systems thinking skills.
There is growing interest in observing how interaction with a robot can enhance human learning. R... more There is growing interest in observing how interaction with a robot can enhance human learning. Recent studies of educational processes mediated by human-like robots (HLRs) focused mainly on individual learning with robot companions. This article presents a study of a science lesson mediated by the life-size humanoid robot, RoboThespian. Participants in the study were school groups from grades 5-7 who participated in a lesson at the science museum MadaTech in two different classroom environments. The study evaluated the effectiveness in learning new science concepts and creating positive perceptions of the robot teacher. The results show that the lesson achieved its educational objectives. The level of learning interaction was influenced by the design of learning activities, robot behaviors, and the students' perceived psychological distance from the robot.
This paper presents and juxtaposes two different learning processes developed in Israel and in Ko... more This paper presents and juxtaposes two different learning processes developed in Israel and in Korea to introduce the concept of systems at early stages of school education, with special focus on the aspects of system structure and behavior. Our findings indicated the students successfully grasped the concept of system through practices of constructing robots and exploring their behaviors.
This paper juxtaposes science lessons on the topic “Levers” given to two sixth grade classes, one... more This paper juxtaposes science lessons on the topic “Levers” given to two sixth grade classes, one in a Tokyo elementary school assisted by an android robot SAYA, and the other at the science museum MadaTech in Haifa aided by a humanoid RoboThespian. The one hour lessons had the same outline including theoretical explanation, in-group experiments with lever balances, and assessment activities. The classes were instructed and managed by the robot-teachers through preprogrammed behaviors and remote operation. We juxtapose the features of the educational interaction in the lessons elicited by using the same questionnaire, assessment test and video analysis.
This paper examines learning through student interaction with animated robots, as implemented in ... more This paper examines learning through student interaction with animated robots, as implemented in robot theatre performances and workshops in the science museum.
This paper overviews the spectrum of robotics programs at the Israel National Museum of Science, ... more This paper overviews the spectrum of robotics programs at the Israel National Museum of Science, Technology and Space (MadaTech), including exhibitions for visitors and educational activities at the Gelfand Center for Model Building, Robotics & Communication. We present the 2010 robotics program and describe in detail the innovative nationwide robotics competition “OlympiYeda” developed through collaboration between MadaTech and Technion. We discuss indications of self-regulated learning, learning in a rich robotic environment, and learning through interaction with robots detected by the follow-up of learning, inspired by the competition.
This paper explores an approach which engages first-year industrial engineering students in teleo... more This paper explores an approach which engages first-year industrial engineering students in teleoperating robot manipulators and how this practice can contribute to the development of their spatial awareness. We analyzed the spatial constraints of teleoperation such as exocentric viewing, limited viewshed, and delayed visual feedback, and used them for training students. A robot operation workshop has been conducted in two versions of learning practice: one in direct operation of robots in the lab, and the other in remote control of the robots from the computer class. Students' reflections on the workshop contribution to their spatial awareness, exposure to industrial robotics, and interest to study it were compared. As found, evaluations of the students who teleoperated robots were significantly higher for all three contribution factors. For students of the teleoperation group the major difficulty was in exocentric viewing, but providing the opportunity to manipulate physical o...
There is growing interest to the use of robots in science museums for demonstration of technologi... more There is growing interest to the use of robots in science museums for demonstration of technological innovations and introducingthe principles of human-robot interaction. This paper considers the educational robotics programs developed at MadaTech incollaboration with the Technion, aimed to promote public understanding of robots, motivate young people to study robotics, andfoster excellence in technology and science education. The robot theatre performances and the OlympiYeda competition of theMadaTech 2010 Robotics Year are analyzed. The characteristic features of the programs such as learning in a rich environment,learning through interactive robot demonstration, and learning in a diverse community are evaluated.
This paper considers a science lesson given through mediation of the humanoid RoboThespian to gro... more This paper considers a science lesson given through mediation of the humanoid RoboThespian to groups of school students (grades 5–7) at the science museum MadaTech. The lesson included theoretical explanations, handson experiments, and a knowledge quiz, all instructed and managed by means of the robot-teacher through programmed behaviors and remote teleoperation. We present the lesson design and implementation in two settings with different characteristics of teacher immediacy, discuss students’ outcomes and perceptions. The study shows the feasibility of using robotic assistants in science classes and uncovers the factors that influence learning in such settings.
International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 2019
This study explores an opportunity to engage first-year engineering students in practice with a m... more This study explores an opportunity to engage first-year engineering students in practice with a modern industrial robot Baxter and provides training in spatial skills. We developed a laboratory exercise in which the students operate the robot to perform spatial manipulations of objects. We implemented the exercise on a digital twin of Baxter in the Gazebo virtual environment. The digital twin was calibrated to mimic the physical properties of the Baxter and correctly simulate its spatial manipulations with oriented cubes. The exercise was delivered to a class of 25 students as part of the robotics workshop in the Introduction to Industrial Engineering course. We administered a post-workshop questionnaire with focus on the analysis of the learning outcomes and students' spatial difficulties. The students noted that the workshop and particularly the exercise effectively exposed them to industrial robotics and raised their spatial awareness in robot operation.
Our study proposes an approach based on learning through interaction with robots. We investigated... more Our study proposes an approach based on learning through interaction with robots. We investigated how this approach can contribute to the development of systems thinking skills in elementary school students. 346 students of 2nd to 4th grades participated in the workshop “Animal-like robots” conducted at MadaTech. The workshop activities focused on inquiry and design of robot behaviors. We evaluated students’ performance of the workshop tasks and found indications of significant progress in the systems thinking skills.
There is growing interest in observing how interaction with a robot can enhance human learning. R... more There is growing interest in observing how interaction with a robot can enhance human learning. Recent studies of educational processes mediated by human-like robots (HLRs) focused mainly on individual learning with robot companions. This article presents a study of a science lesson mediated by the life-size humanoid robot, RoboThespian. Participants in the study were school groups from grades 5-7 who participated in a lesson at the science museum MadaTech in two different classroom environments. The study evaluated the effectiveness in learning new science concepts and creating positive perceptions of the robot teacher. The results show that the lesson achieved its educational objectives. The level of learning interaction was influenced by the design of learning activities, robot behaviors, and the students' perceived psychological distance from the robot.
This paper presents and juxtaposes two different learning processes developed in Israel and in Ko... more This paper presents and juxtaposes two different learning processes developed in Israel and in Korea to introduce the concept of systems at early stages of school education, with special focus on the aspects of system structure and behavior. Our findings indicated the students successfully grasped the concept of system through practices of constructing robots and exploring their behaviors.
This paper juxtaposes science lessons on the topic “Levers” given to two sixth grade classes, one... more This paper juxtaposes science lessons on the topic “Levers” given to two sixth grade classes, one in a Tokyo elementary school assisted by an android robot SAYA, and the other at the science museum MadaTech in Haifa aided by a humanoid RoboThespian. The one hour lessons had the same outline including theoretical explanation, in-group experiments with lever balances, and assessment activities. The classes were instructed and managed by the robot-teachers through preprogrammed behaviors and remote operation. We juxtapose the features of the educational interaction in the lessons elicited by using the same questionnaire, assessment test and video analysis.
This paper examines learning through student interaction with animated robots, as implemented in ... more This paper examines learning through student interaction with animated robots, as implemented in robot theatre performances and workshops in the science museum.
This paper overviews the spectrum of robotics programs at the Israel National Museum of Science, ... more This paper overviews the spectrum of robotics programs at the Israel National Museum of Science, Technology and Space (MadaTech), including exhibitions for visitors and educational activities at the Gelfand Center for Model Building, Robotics & Communication. We present the 2010 robotics program and describe in detail the innovative nationwide robotics competition “OlympiYeda” developed through collaboration between MadaTech and Technion. We discuss indications of self-regulated learning, learning in a rich robotic environment, and learning through interaction with robots detected by the follow-up of learning, inspired by the competition.
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