Using Educational Robots to Enhance Learning: An Analysis of 100 Academic Articles

This book presents advances in the research of educational robotics and showcases how they can be used to facilitate learning. It summarizes popular and relevant terms and theories in educational robotics via analyzing one hundred influential journal articles in this field, to provide readers background knowledge on the subject matter. This book also guides readers in understanding how different types of robotics are utilized to promote learning among different types of students, in different contexts, and in different disciplines of study.

Dr. Dejian Liu is Founder and Chairman of NetDragon Websoft Inc., Co-Dean of Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University, and Co-Dean of Academy of Big Data Application in Chinese Education.His research fields include Internet Product Design, the Application of VR/AR, AI &Big Data in Education, Digital Education, etc. In recognition of the outstanding contributions in Engineering Technology, the Chinese government has awarded him the title of Special Allowance Expert of the State Council in 2015, enjoying national expert treatment.He was Adjunct Lecturer in Harvard Graduate School of Education(2017-2018), and his other academic roles include Executive Dean in Residence for Educational Innovation in University of North Texas, Adjunct Professor of Beijing Normal University, Vice Director of the Board for National Engineering Laboratory for Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology, Honorary Director of State Laboratory of Science, Technology and Standards in Press and Publication, Board Member of Sino-Finnish Joint Learning Innovation Institute, Member of the Advisory Council of UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education and Advisory Committee of UNESCO International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology. 

Dr. Ronghuai Huang is a Professor in the Faculty of Education of Beijing Normal University (BNU). He currently serves as the Co-Dean of the Smart Learning Institute of BNU, the Director of the National Engineering Research Center of Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology, the Director of Educational Informatization Strategy Research Base (Beijing) of the Ministry of Education of P.R.C, the Holder of UNESCO Chair on Artificial intelligence in education, the Director of UNESCO International Research and Training Centre for Rural Education. He is also the Secretary-General of the Expert Group of Education Informatization of the Ministry of Education, a Member of the Expert Committee on Science Subject of the Department of National Textbook, a Member of the Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence Technology Innovation of the Ministry of Education, and Editor-in-Chief of Springer’s Journal of Computers in Education and Smart Learning Environment.He has mainly engaged in the fields of educational informatization, smart learning environment, technology-supported innovative teaching, and artificial intelligence in education. He received many honors, including the National Award for Outstanding Teaching Achievement, Science Research Famous Achievement Award in Higher Institution, Science Research Famous Achievement Award in National Education, and the Titles of Beijing Famous Teacher and Beijing Outstanding Teacher. Till now, he has accomplished and is working on over 100 national, provincial, and ministerial projects. His ideas have been widely spread, with over 300 academic papers and over 40 books published at home and aboard.

Dr. Ying Chen is Post-doctoral Researcher at Beijing Normal University (BNU), China, Researcher of the Smart Learning Institute of BNU, and Researcher of the National Engineering Research Center of Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology. She obtained her Ph.D. in Marine Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. Dr. Chen has engineering experience on robot development and teaching experience on robotics and automation. Dr. Chen’s current research focus is on educational robotics, pedagogical agent, and artificial intelligence in education.

Dr. Michael Agyemang Adarkwah is Post-doctoral Researcher at the Smart Learning Institute and the National Engineering Research Center of Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology, Beijing Normal University (BNU), China. He obtained his Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Management from Southwest University, China. He has a bachelor's degree in Nursing and has worked as Registered Nurse (RGN) in Ghana. His research interests are teaching and learning, motivation, assessments, digitalization, computers and education, special education, linguistics, diversity in healthcare, and nursing practitioners. Dr. Adarkwah is International Peer-Reviewer and is Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Educational Studies and Multidisciplinary Approaches (JESMA), the International Journal of Modern Education Studies (IJONMES), and Social Education Research (SER). He is also Associate Editor for the Springer journal SN Social Sciences.

Dr. Xiangling Zhang is Lecturer at Beijing Institute of Education, China. She has published several research works, including books, as well as academic papers in international referred journals and conferences. She is serving as Reviewer in several refereed journals, such as Smart Learning Environments and Social Science Computer Review. Her research areas include robot education, smart learning environments, technology-enhanced learning, and open education resources.

Dr. Xin Li is Ph.D. Candidate at the School of Educational Technology at Beijing Normal University (BNU), China. His research interests include student engagement, computer-supported collaborative learning, and learning analytics.

Dr. Junjie Zhang is Post-doctoral Researcher at Beijing Normal University (BNU), China, Researcher at the Smart Learning Institute of BNU, and Researcher of the National Engineering Research Center of Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology. Dr. Zhang obtained a Ph.D. in Electronic Science and Technology from Beijing University of Technology, China. Dr. Zhang has engineering experience on computer vision and teaching experience on image processing. Dr. Zhang’s current research is on emotion recognition, deep learning, and artificial intelligence in education.

Dr. Ting Da is Post-doctoral Researcher at Beijing Normal University (BNU), China, and Researcher at the National Engineering Research Center of Cyberlearning and Intelligent Technology. Dr. Da’s current research interests focus on artificial intelligence in education and educational data mining.