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Distance Learning in the Era of COVID-19: Supporting Educational Robotics with Augmented Reality

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Education in & with Robotics to Foster 21st-Century Skills (EDUROBOTICS 2021)

Part of the book series: Studies in Computational Intelligence ((SCI,volume 982))

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Abstract

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, new challenges have emerged, bringing distance learning into the spotlight. In the context of distance learning and robotics education, we propose a system that utilizes an e-learning platform, an educational robot and mobile augmented reality technology. The current circumstances prompt this study to focus on those technologies to overcome the online distance learning deficits compared to in-person laboratory robotic activities implementation. This empirical study shows the preliminary results of the pilot implementation of this teaching approach. Combining AR technology with educational robotics is deemed an innovative and contemporary proposal for teaching students STEM concepts for online distance learning environments. An e-learning mobile AR educational robotics environment was designed for this study. In this paper, a qualitative pilot study is presented. Two groups of elementary school students participated in the study. Students’ perceptions and behavior provided feedback regarding the feasibility and support of e-learning using an augmented reality environment at the educational robotics course. All of the students participated actively in the learning process, considering this type of teaching more pleasant and enjoyable, and in general, students’ attitudes were positive. Future research should be made to examine the opportunities and challenges of implementing such a system in educational settings more in-depth.

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Acknowledgments

This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme “MATCHING FUNDS - Science Technology Innovation Mathematics Engineering for the Young (STIMEY)”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational and Social Policy, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Christina Pasalidou & Nikolaos Fachantidis

  2. Laboratory of Informatics and Robotic Applications in Education and Society, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Christina Pasalidou & Nikolaos Fachantidis

Authors
  1. Christina Pasalidou
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  2. Nikolaos Fachantidis
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Correspondence to Nikolaos Fachantidis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Engineering and Mathematics, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Monica Malvezzi

  2. European Lab for Educational Technology, Edumotiva, Sparta, Greece

    Dimitris Alimisis

  3. Department of Information Engineering, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy

    Michele Moro

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Pasalidou, C., Fachantidis, N. (2021). Distance Learning in the Era of COVID-19: Supporting Educational Robotics with Augmented Reality. In: Malvezzi, M., Alimisis, D., Moro, M. (eds) Education in & with Robotics to Foster 21st-Century Skills. EDUROBOTICS 2021. Studies in Computational Intelligence, vol 982. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77022-8_4

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