Omani Research Investigates the Influence of Robot-Aided Learning on Education

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A recent research project led by Dr. Falah Younis Hamode, Assistant Professor and Research Coordinator at the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at Sohar University, delves into the impact of using robots with different personalities on student engagement and learning in educational settings. The study, titled ‘Sentiment and Emotional Analysis to Capture Misinformation in Natural Language Expressions Using Furhat Social Robot,’ funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, represents a notable advancement in educational technology.

The research focused on the utilization of Furhat, a humanoid robot designed for expressive and friendly communication, to examine its influence on students in schools and universities. Dr. Hamode’s interactions involved 300 students at Sohar University with Furhat embodying four distinct characters – Omar, Fernando, Gyeong, and Yumi – each characterized by variations in age, skin color, voice, and pronunciation.

The study’s findings revealed that the varying personalities of the robot significantly impacted students’ perceptions and engagement levels. Characteristics such as age, gender, and voice played a pivotal role in shaping students’ receptiveness to the teaching content. The research highlighted diverse student responses to each of Furhat’s personas, indicating specific preferences for different traits and communication styles.

Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in students’ attitudes, comfort levels, and trust toward the various robot personalities. The study underscored the importance of adaptability in teaching methods based on the robot’s user interactions, emphasizing that tailoring the robot’s characteristics to student preferences is crucial for maximizing engagement and learning outcomes.

Dr. Hamode recommended the continued use of diverse characters to cater to various learning styles and suggested exploring a broader range of emotional expressions in the robot’s interactions for a more immersive learning experience. Sohar University stands out in the Middle East as the first academic institution to utilize the Furhat robot for research, showcasing its commitment to innovative research and acknowledging the significant role humanoid robots can play in various academic fields.

The research, co-conducted by Dr. Abdallah M Abualkishik, a co-principal investigator, was published in the international journal Computers. It contributes significantly to the discourse on integrating robotics into education, emphasizing the need for personalized and adaptive interactions in robotic learning systems to achieve impactful learning results.