Can Robots Teach? Preliminary Results on Educational Robotics in Special Education

Abstract

Educational robotics is used worldwide in education as a learning tool, but surprisingly rarely in special education. In our study educational robotics and the kids' club working model were brought into special education which usually lacks educational technology tools. Through qualitative action research, we have identified various advantages that educational robotics can bring into learning. The robotic tools made it possible for the students to practice and learn many necessary skills, like collaboration, cognitive skills, self-confidence, perception, and spatial understanding. The encouraging results support the second phase of the study that will analyze more concretely how technology should be developed to become more flexible and usable for all learners and what we can learn from students with individual needs through the use of technology