Multigenerational Collaboration to Create a Community of Practice Through Robot Application Development

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of college classroom-based collaborative learning by exploring robot application on the interactions between the elderly, college students and robots, and social competence among participants. The trial included eight elderly people and 12 female college students in one class. Participants completed questionnaires before and after participation in the course. To analyze the process of co-creation of robot application, communication between the elderly and college students was observed. In the first trial of the collaborative learning program using a robot with the elderly and college students, during the discussion of the class, an increase of participants’ synchronicity was observed and recognized. The participants’ attitude toward the future changed to a more positive direction after participation. These results indicate collaborative learning using a robot appears to improve inclusive interaction among multi-generations and the robot.