Anthropomorphic Robots and Human Meaning Makers in Education

Abstract

This paper provides a theoretical discussion of the use of anthropomorphic social robots in education. In particular, this work addresses the use of human-like robots in the role of meaning disruptors. While social robots are often used to imitate human roles to a varying degree, be it teachers, assistants or peers, the underlying assumption here is that anthropomorphic robots are creations that may be assigned entirely new roles. Also, this paper argues that rather than aim at the close resemblance of human characteristics in the robot’s form and behaviour, anthropomorphic robots may deliberately exploit the divergence between the robot’s characteristics and performance and the human frame of reference. This is how both teachers and school students will become active meaning makers and an increased interest in robotics will be maintained over time. The main subject of reflection is the difference between the human and human-like.