Exploring the Role of a Social Robot in a Science Center: Children’s Perspectives

Abstract

Purpose: To explore children’s conceptualizations of social robots in informal learning. Theory: Sociocultural theories of learning, social constructivist theory. Method: Participatory Design-based research with a group of eight children in the science center Universeum in Gothenburg, Sweden. The data collected during the design activities was analyzed by Thematic analysis. Results: This study revealed that the children envision a social robot as a scaffolding tool to support independent exploration, contrasting with the conventional role of social robots in a science center as guides.