A comparison of humanoid and non-humanoid robots in supporting the learning of pupils with severe intellectual disabilities

Aslam, Sarmad; Standen, Penny; Shopland, Nicholas; Burton, Andy

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the humanoid NAO robot can enhance learning as well as improve communication in children with intellectual disabilities. However, most special needs schools cannot afford the humanoid NAO robot due to high costs. Could a cheaper nonhumanoid Lego Mindstorm robot be an alternative way of achieving the same learning objectives as the humanoid NAO robot? A single case study experimental ABAB design was used consisting of 16 sessions over 5 weeks: eight with the humanoid and eight with the non-humanoid robot. All sessions were video recorded and analysed for percentage engagement and percentage errors made by each of four students. For each student individually, these outcome measures were then compared between the two conditions. The teachers were interviewed at the end of the study. Three out of four students were significantly more engaged with the non-humanoid robot than the humanoid robot, whilst one student was found to be equally engaged with both robots. There was no significant difference between the two robots in terms of percentage errors for all four participants who managed to complete the study.

• Conference Name: 2016 International Conference on Interactive Technologies and Games: EduRob in Conjunction with iTAG 2016, iTAG 2016
• Conference Location: Nottingham
• Start Date: Oct 26, 2016
• End Date: Oct 27, 2016
• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Dec 15, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Deposit Date: Oct 10, 2017
• Journal: IEEE 2016 International Conference on Interactive Technologies and Games
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Book Title: Proceedings - 2016 International Conference on Interactive Technologies and Games (ITAG)
• ISBN: 978-1-5090-3739-1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/iTAG.2016.9
• Keywords: Intellectual disabilities, Education, Robots, Engagement, Learning objectives
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/821441
• Publisher URL: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7782508/
• Additional Information: Published in: 2016 International Conference on Interactive Technologies and Games (iTAG). Piscataway, N.J. : IEEE, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-5090-3738-4. pp. 7-12, doi:10.1109/iTAG.2016.9 © 2016 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.