If you’ve seen the latest iRobot Roomba commercials, you might think that all those sci-fi movies you’ve watched are coming true and the end of the world is nigh. In the commercial, all kinds of people demonstrate how robots play a role in their day-to-day lives: in the home, in the pool, in the lab, and even in the classroom.

But could robots ever replace teachers?

More and more scholarship is emerging on how robots can be used in the instruction process. Educators and scientists are always working to determine what motivates learners of all levels, and there is evidence to suggest that robots could be strong motivators.

In a recent issue of Interactive Learning Environments, however, one group of researchers argue that robots are only effective instructors when guided by “suitable instructional strategies” – just like all of us warm-blooded instructors.  Hung, Chao, Lee, and Chen (2013) suggest that, in order to insure that the motivation robots provide is sustainable, robotic instruction needs to be based in the same organizational models that all educators use. For their own purposes, Hung et al. (2013) present the ARCS model:

• Attention: While novelty can draw learners in, fostering an environment safe for inquiry and varying methods can establish and maintain a connection with learners.
• Relevance: Provide a context to the learning process by connecting to learners’ goals, motives, and previous experiences.
• Confidence: Building efficient instructional models with clear purposes, offering learners a degree of autonomy in their learning, and identifying realistic goals all help to build confidence in learners.
• Satisfaction: Demonstrate the use-value of what has been learned. Learners are more likely to be motivated to learn when they can see that there is a real application or positive result for what they are learning. Satisfaction comes from equitable learning where learners’ needs and interests are integrated into the instructional strategies.

Even though you aren’t a robot, you can apply the same instructional model in your classroom. For more information about learning motivation theories and the ARCS model, read Hung et al.

References

Hung, I.C., Chao, K.J., Lee, L., & Chen, N.S. (2013). Designing a robot teaching assistant for enhancing and sustaining learning motivation. Interactive Learning Environments, 21(2), 156-171. doi: 10.1080/10494820.2012.705855