Editorial: Computational intelligence advances in educational robotics
Francisco Bellas, Armando Jorge Sousa · Frontiers in Robotics and AI · 2023
IntroductionThe use of robots as educational tools at pre-university levels of education has become very popular (Daniela, 2019).Such tools are often also convenient in higher education, namely in the teaching of robotics in several areas of STEM.Robots are perfect for a learn-by-doing methodology, and they continue to be very motivating for younger students (Myint Swe Khine, 2017).Notably, younger students in higher education institutions also particularly value the visual learning style that such robots easily provide.The main reasons for the popularity of robots in schools (and higher education institutions) have been an increase in the availability of open software and open hardware options at affordable prices, and the development of programming environments suitable for students of different ages and skill levels (Esposito, 2017).Educational robots have been validated as effective ways to train students in programming fundamentals (Ioannou and Makridou, 2018), electronics and mechanics (Takacs et al., 2016), and more integrated STEM subjects (Tuluri, 2017).Given the abovementioned context, robots can assist in education, specifically in the STEM areas, at various levels of teaching, starting from very young ages (pre-school) and extending all the way up to higher education.We are currently entering the Artificial Intelligence education era (AIed) (Zimmerman, 2018); (Miao and Holmes, 2021).In this domain, students of all levels will require a formal training in AI Research Topic in the short term, and robots are perfect tools for this goal.They can be used as practical devices in class, where they can help students learn about perception, actuation, learning, reasoning, natural interaction, and many other Research Topic (AI4K12 initiative, 2021); (Developing an Artificial Intelligence, 2021).In addition, teachers can use robotic simulators in online learning scenarios, and for optimization of in-person class hours (Tselegkaridis and Sapounidis, 2021).Regarding the term "computational intelligence," the well-known Wikipedia site states that « there is still no commonly accepted definition of Computational Intelligence», but states that work in this field seeks the same long-term goal as AI (Wikipedia contributors, 2023): that is, to understand and learn to perform complex intellectual human tasks.The IEEE defines