Agency in educational robotics settings: a new design approach Ilkka Jormanainen ilkka.jormanainen@cs.joensuu.fi Department of Computer Science University of Joensuu, Finland 30.3.2006
In this presentation… Background Introduction to educational robotics A new design approach for educational robotics settings Agency in the domain Empirical Modelling (EM) EM approach for designing learning settings
Educational robotics Small-scale robotic kits Interactive, autonomous artefacts for learning and teaching Relatively cheap price Example: Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System Developed at mid-1980’s at MIT Widely used in different educational contexts
Educational robotics Pedagogical background Examples of usage Constructionism Learning by doing (and playing) Project-based working Group-oriented working methods Examples of usage Kids’ Club, special education Distributed systems, networking, embedded systems
Educational robotics Teaching with educational robotics Groups of 3-4 student A given topic or project Project-based working Iterative cycle of planning, building, programming, testing and evaluating
Problems Several problems can be indicated Settings do not fit to curricula very well Teacher might have difficulties to follow all groups Teachers have to have special knowledge Technical skills Engineering and programming
Empirical Modelling Characteristics of a model is described with three key concepts: Observable Dependency Agent Model is a pattern of these Usage of the models by set of definitions state-as-experience Analogy to spreadsheet
Our approach Pedagogical agents embodied to the educational robotics Empirical Modelling Pedagogical and technical design environments with EM tools Result: agent-enhanced simulation of the learning setting
Our approach Student group Working process Modelling process Teacher Interaction Agents’ actions
Conclusions Efficient usage of educational robotics requires new kind of teaching settings EM could help to model and follow the process when using robotics The work is in the initial phase Frameworks for the work Collaboration between universities at Joensuu, Massey and Warwick (UK)
Thank you! Questions? Comments?