Examining Teachers’ Opinions on the Potential for Using Social Robots in Philadelphia Public Schools

• In Event: Social Aspects of Learning With Technology

Abstract

Prior research suggests that using social robots in educational settings has the potential to assist teachers in facilitating student learning. However, in previous work surveying teachers’ opinions on the use of social robots, respondents raised general concerns about the introduction of robots in educational settings. To obtain more specific information about such concerns, the current paper reports the results of an online survey delivered to teachers in the school district of Philadelphia. The study utilized a larger sample size (N=69) and used more specific questions than in most previous research in this area. The quantitative and qualitative analyses provide a nuanced look at the varied teacher opinions of potential benefits and costs of introducing robots into the public school classroom.

Authors

• Allison Langer, Temple University

• Peter Marshall, Temple University