Development of a Social Robot for the Study of Robot Roles in Robot-Assisted Language Learning
Abstract
The objective of this thesis encompasses both the development of a novel social robot, named ”Maple,” and the examination of its effectiveness in various roles within the context of education and Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). A study was conducted to compare the efficacy of two common roles that social robots can assume in HRI research concerning learning: as a tutor and as a peer-learner. Individual participants, including university students and staff, engage in a vocabulary learning task in Esperanto with Maple assuming either a tutor or a peer-learner role. The research findings indicate participants’ positive attitudes and perceptions towards both roles enacted by Maple. Usability assessments reveal high scores across both conditions, with participants reporting predominantly positive user experiences. While no significant difference in learning outcomes is observed between the two robot roles, participants exhibit a 30% increase in quiz completion speed when interacting with Maple in the peer-learner role, suggesting the peer-learner robot promotes and fosters meaningful learning. Thematic analysis of participants’ responses underscores their preferences for increased interaction with Maple as a peer-learner, acknowledgment of Maple’s capacity for companionship and interactivity, and envisioning practical applications of such learning systems in real-life settings. The insights obtained from this study not only contribute to understanding the effectiveness of social robots in educational settings but also offer valuable directions for future research and technology development in Human-Robot Interaction and Robot-Assisted Language Learning.
Collections
Cite this version of the work
Ya-Ting Yang
(2024).
Development of a Social Robot for the Study of Robot Roles in Robot-Assisted Language Learning. UWSpace.
http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20500
Other formats
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Evaluation of Laban Effort Features based on the Social Attributes and Personality of Domestic Service Robots
Emir, Ebru (University of Waterloo, 2022-09-29)Today, it is not uncommon to see robots adopted in various domains and environments. From manufacturing facilities to households, robots take over several roles and tasks. For instance, the adoption of robotic vacuum ... -
Human-Inspired Robot Task Teaching and Learning
Wu, Xianghai (University of Waterloo, 2009-10-28)Current methods of robot task teaching and learning have several limitations: highly-trained personnel are usually required to teach robots specific tasks; service-robot systems are limited in learning different types of ... -
Control System and Graphical User Interface Design of an Upper-Extremity Rehabilitation Robot
Khoshroo, Parya (University of Waterloo, 2020-12-21)Stroke is one of the leading causes of death, physical disability, and loss of brain functionality each year, especially amongst older adults. The ability to access good quality post-stroke rehabilitation exercises is ...