Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.7
2.9
Journals
Robotics
Special Issues
Advances and Challenges in Educational Robotics II
share announcement

Advances and Challenges in Educational Robotics II

A special issue of Robotics (ISSN 2218-6581). This special issue belongs to the section "Educational Robotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2022) | Viewed by 7531

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Igor Verner

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
Interests: Education 4.0; educational robotics; model-based learning; learning with learning and communicating robots
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Antonio Valente

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Habilitation at Engineering Department, UTAD—University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
2. INESC TEC—Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Porto, Portugal
Interests: educational robotics; robotic competitions; robotics for agriculture; IoT; sensors; sensors for agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Education nowadays is facing challenges to adapt and keep pace with the fast-changing technological world. The radical digital transformation and massive introduction of robots in industry and everyday life give grounds to speak about entering the era of the fourth industrial revolution. The crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic catalyzes the assimilation of remote communication and online learning. These matters necessitate novel pedagogies that will prepare people for the deliberate use of robotic systems and active participation in their development. Therefore, it is urgent to introduce, at all levels of education, teaching robotics, and teaching with robotics in ways that align with the current demands.

This Special Issue aims to present new innovative approaches to teaching smart robotics and using robotic environments to enhance the learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We solicit original contributions, which report on the development of robotic environments, implementation of educational robotics programs and competitions, and evidence-based evaluation of their learning outcomes.

Of particular interest are papers in which robotics activities combine design and analysis and involve an exploration of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, virtual and augmented realities, and 3D printing. The papers are expected to explore learning outcomes of the robotics activities related to the acquisition of knowledge and skills, as well as the development of perceptions and attitudes. The studies can target formal or informal education in universities and schools.

Prof. Dr. Igor Verner
Dr. Antonio Valente
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Robotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 2462 KiB  
Article
An Educational Test Rig for Kinesthetic Learning of Mechanisms for Underactuated Robotic Hands
by Gabriele Maria Achilli, Silvia Logozzo and Maria Cristina Valigi
Robotics 2022, 11(5), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics11050115 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2331
Abstract
Teaching robotics requires interdisciplinary skills and a good creativity, providing instructions and hands-on experiences, exploiting different kinds of learning. Two kinds of learning methods are commonly used: the ‘visual learning’ and the ‘auditory learning’, recognizable by the preference of an approach for images, [...] Read more.
Teaching robotics requires interdisciplinary skills and a good creativity, providing instructions and hands-on experiences, exploiting different kinds of learning. Two kinds of learning methods are commonly used: the ‘visual learning’ and the ‘auditory learning’, recognizable by the preference of an approach for images, rather than for texts, or oral explanations. A third possible learning style is the ‘kinesthetic learning’, based on tactile activities, which is generally least exploited, both by teachers in the classroom and by students during individual study. In this perspective, the use of educational test rigs is a good practice and adds an opportunity to share a passion for robotics. The paper focuses on the realization and application of an educational test rig aimed at explaining how a differential mechanism works and how it can be applied to robotic underactuated soft grippers to move multiple robotic fingers independently of each other using just a single actuator. The differential test bench was realized by 3D printing and mounted with the help of students in high school seminaries oriented to encourage students towards robotic or mechatronic studies. This activity was very thrilling for the students and helped them to approach robotics in a natural way, exploiting kinesthetic learning as it is demonstrated by test results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in Educational Robotics II)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 4072 KiB  
Article
Augmented and Virtual Reality Experiences for Learning Robotics and Training Integrative Thinking Skills
by Igor Verner, Dan Cuperman, Huberth Perez-Villalobos, Alex Polishuk and Sergei Gamer
Robotics 2022, 11(5), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics11050090 - 6 Sep 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3864
Abstract
Learning through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences has become a valuable approach in modern robotics education. This study evaluated this approach and investigated how 99 first-year industrial engineering students explored robot systems through such online experiences while staying at home. [...] Read more.
Learning through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences has become a valuable approach in modern robotics education. This study evaluated this approach and investigated how 99 first-year industrial engineering students explored robot systems through such online experiences while staying at home. The objective was to examine learning in the AR/VR environment and evaluate its contribution to understanding the robot systems and to fostering integrative thinking. During the AR experiences that we developed using Vuforia Studio, the students learned about TurtleBot2 and RACECAR MN robots while disassembling and modifying their models and by obtaining information about their components. In the VR experience with the RacecarSim simulator, the students explored sensor-based robot navigation. Quizzes were used to assess understanding of robot systems, and a post-workshop questionnaire evaluated the workshop’s contribution to learning about the robots and to training integrative thinking skills. The data indicate that the students gained understanding of the robot systems, appreciated the contribution of the augmented and virtual reality apps, and widely used integrative thinking throughout the practice. Our study shows that AR apps and virtual simulators can be effectively used for experiential learning about robot systems in online courses. However, these experiences cannot replace practice with real robots. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in Educational Robotics II)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop