EduRobotX 2025 – 3rd International Workshop of the EATEL SIG

06.07.2025

Mandatory submission of an extended abstract

25.07.2025

Notification of acceptance

16.09.2025

EduRobotX workshop

Submit your extended abstract (500 words):

• Extended abstract should report on important evidence-informed work-in-progress research and developments that fit within the scope of the conference and its topics. Theoretical and practice-oriented contributions are welcome. The submission should include a theoretical background, a description of the work, preliminary results, and references.
• The authors of accepted extended abstracts will have the opportunity to publish in a selected journal (to be defined).
• Please use the ECTEL 2025 submission guidelines and template provided by Springer’s authors’ guidelines.

The workshop objectives include:

• This workshop aims to explore how educational and social robots can support diverse learners across all ages and including those with special needs (e.g., neurodivergent individuals, learners with disabilities). We invite extended abstracts showcasing innovative applications in learning and development. Selected authors will be invited to submit full papers for a planned journal special issue on cutting-edge developments in educational robotics.Participants will engage in a collaborative design thinking process using a co-design canvas to develop meaningful, interdisciplinary robotics applications for education and society. The goal is to spark innovation, share knowledge, and shape future research directions in robotics and education.The workshop is designed as both a presentation and a hands-on design session. In the first part, participants will present their papers.. In the second part, they will work collaboratively to explore how educational robots and robotics can be applied in meaningful and beneficial ways, transforming ideas into concrete, implementable concepts.The workshop will delve into a variety of practical examples, use cases, and research findings pertaining to the themes it covers. We present a comprehensive overview of the proceedings, addressing specific use cases and application examples as well as broader implications of educational robots and robotics on education and learning. Our aim is to offer insights into both specific case studies and more general applications, illuminating the diverse ways in which educational robotics and social robots can contribute to education (school, higher education, professional education, lifelong learning).

The workshop topics include (but are not limited to):

• Adaptive forms of learning, subject-integration, interdisciplinary approaches
• Methods and scenarios for robotics applications in education
• STEM and Robotics: Exploring Synergies for Enhanced Learning
• Skills and Competencies Acquisition through Robotics: Innovations and Applications
• Psychological Insights in Educational Robotics: Motivation, Focus, and Well-being
• Cultivating Curiosity: The Role of Robotics in Fostering Inquisitive Learning
• AI and Robotics Integration in Education: Leveraging ChatGPT, Large Language Models, and Machine Learning
• Enhancing Human-Robot Interaction in Educational Settings: Challenges and Opportunities
• Personalized Learning with Robotics: Tailoring Education to Individual Needs and Abilities
• Cognitive Development and Educational Robotics: Understanding the Impact on Student Learning
• Considerations in AI-driven Educational Robotics: Navigating the Moral and Ethical Landscape
• Future Directions in Educational Robotics: Emerging Trends, Innovations and Opportunities for Lifelong Learning

The EduRobotX workshop will be a full-day, face-to-face event:

• Part 1: Paper presentations and discussion (half-day)
• Part 2: Co-creation session using design thinking (half-day)

Part 1: Presentations of submitted papers (half day)

Authors of submitted papers present their work in a series of interactive sessions with Q&A. This part of the workshop is structured as follows:

1. Introduction of the workshop and participants
2. Presentations of accepted papers (12 minutes each) with Q&A (3 mins)
3. Key take-aways and ideas for the second part of the workshop

Part 2: Co-creation workshop (half day)

The co-creation part of the workshop is aligned with the Design Thinking approach:

1. Inspiration (Empathize) – Introduction and idea generation

We begin by introducing the concept of co-creation and educational robotics. 

Goal: Build shared understanding, spark creative thinking, and broaden perspectives on the potential of robotics.

2. Needs Exploration (Define) – Identify real-world challenges

Participants reflect on personal or societal challenges and identify specific needs, values, and stakeholders across different fields (e.g., education, healthcare, logistics, art).

Guiding question: What human-centered challenges could robotics help address?

Goal: Deepen understanding of context, define relevant problem spaces, and center human values.

3. Hands-on Exploration (Ideate) – Robot interaction and brainstorming

Through guided interaction with robots such as LEGO Mindstorms, NAO, Pepper, robotic arms, or virtual simulations, participants gain firsthand experience of robot behavior and social interaction.

Goal: Lower technical barriers, stimulate embodied ideation, and explore human-robot dynamics through playful experimentation.

4. Co-Creation with Co-Design Canvas (Prototype) – Group work using co-design canvas

Working in small teams, participants develop a concept for a meaningful robotics application addressing a selected educational challenge. They use a co-design canvas to structure their ideas, with attention to interaction design, ethics, human-robot collaboration, and feasibility.

Goal: Translate insights into concrete, human-centered prototypes and concepts.

5. Sharing & Reflection (Test & Reflect)– Team presentations and feedback

Each team presents its concept to the group, followed by a facilitated reflection session.

Goal: Harvest insights, foster critical reflection, and outline next steps or collaborative opportunities.

Ilona Buchem, Berlin University of Applied Sciences, buchem@bht-berlin.de

Nardie Fanchamps, Open University, The Netherlands, nardie.fanchamps@ou.nl 

Maria Perifanou, University of Macedonia, Greece, mariaperif@gmail.com

Rinat Rosenberg-Kima, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, rinatros@technion.ac.il