Omani research explores impact of robot-aided learning in education

Omani research explores impact of robot-aided learning in education

Muscat – A new research has explored the impact of using robots with different personalities in student engagement and learning in educational institutions.

Dr Falah Younis Hamode, Assistant Professor and Research Coordinator at the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology at Sohar University, led a groundbreaking research project to conduct ‘Sentiment and Emotional Analysis to Capture Misinformation in Natural Language Expressions Using Furhat Social Robot’. 

The project, funded by the Block Funding Programme of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, marks a significant advancement in the field of educational technology.

The study utilised a humanoid robot named Furhat, designed to communicate with humans in a friendly and expressive manner, to investigate its impact on students in schools and universities. 

Dr Hamode’s research involved interactions with 300 students from Sohar University using Furhat – the robot, which embodied four diverse characters – Omar, Fernando, Gyeong, and Yumi – each varying in age, skin colour, voice, and pronunciations.

The research findings revealed that the robot’s varying personalities significantly influenced students’ perceptions and engagement levels. Traits such as age, gender, and voice played a crucial role in shaping students’ receptiveness to the teaching content. 

The study highlighted the diverse responses of