The Effect of Genibo Program Based Robot Learning on a Pre-Schoolers' Emotional Development

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of Genibo program robot-based learning(R-Learning) on a pre-schooler's mental state. To achieve above study purpose, the subject of this study was selected 46(teacher 2, five years old pre-schooler 44) from pre-school childrens in Kyongki Y city(R-Learning activity participants group 21: boys 10, girls 11. non-participants 25: boys 13, girls 12). R-Learning program is consist of 5 field about 20 contents using Genibo robot, were applied to the experimental group and the pre-post test was conducted using the EQ assessment tool and observations. The data were analyzed by t-test using the SPSS(ver 18.0) program. The results were as follows: First, the exposure of robots to pre-schoolers in practical situation has shown positive influence to the children's emotional well-being. Positive improvements were observed in the four sub categories of the EQ assessment after exposure. Second, the Genibo used for this study, is a biomimetic AI based robot mimicking the behavior of a pet dog. This is related more or less to the specifications of a pre-school education where animals are used as a 'friendly medium' to facilitate the learning process. Third, the robot exposure gave benefit to all the ones in the sample, regardless of sex. Furthermore, It is suggested that promising potential for robots to be utilized as a new educational media plus facilitator, R-Learning is related more or less to the specifications of a pre-school education where animals are used as a 'friendly medium' to facilitate the learning process, and when applying them for education, stereotyping the likes of sex is overrated - instead, the focus should be more on the pre-schoolers' / childrens' individual traits, learning curve differences and alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]