Design specifications for a social robot math tutor

Authors Mike Ligthart, Simone de Droog, Marianne Bossema, Lamia Elloumi, Kees Hoogland, Matthijs Smakman, Koen Hindriks, Somaya Ben Allouch
Published in HRI '23: Proceedings of the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction
Publication date 2023
Research groups Human Experience & Media Design, Mathematical and analytical competence of professionals
Type Lecture

Summary

To benefit from the social capabilities of a robot math tutor, instead of being distracted by them, a novel approach is needed where the math task and the robot's social behaviors are better intertwined. We present concrete design specifications of how children can practice math via a personal conversation with a social robot and how the robot can scaffold instructions. We evaluated the designs with a three-session experimental user study (n = 130, 8-11 y.o.). Participants got better at math over time when the robot scaffolded instructions. Furthermore, the robot felt more as a friend when it personalized the conversation.

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On this publication contributed

  • Kees Hoogland
    • Professor
    • Research group: Mathematical and analytical competence of professionals
  • Professor Matthijs Smakman
    Matthijs Smakman
    • Professor
    • Research group: Smart Systems for Healthy Living

Language English
Published in HRI '23: Proceedings of the 2023 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction
Key words child-robot interaction, mathematics education, social robotics, personalization
Digital Object Identifier 10.1145/3568162.3576957
Page range 321-330

Human Experience and Media Design