Robots as Teachers: From the Lens of College Professors and Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17762/msea.v71i4.1728Abstract
As the use of robot teachers in the classroom has become widespread in some developed countries, several studies on the applicability of robots in education have been conducted. But in the Philippines, adopting robots in the classroom and their consequences in education are not yet explored. Thus, this basic qualitative study was undertaken during SY 2019-2020 in Tawi-Tawi, to address this gap of knowledge and explore some stakeholders' views, specifically, of the college students and professors/instructors, on the applicability of robots in education. The researchers conducted interviews with 29 college instructors and graduating education students at a state college in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. The findings revealed the following themes from the lens of the (a) college students: (1) "students’ veneration for teachers versus disparagement for robots"; (2) "balancing robot's positive features with negative outcomes;" and (3) "adverse impact on students’ personality;”(b) college instructors or professors, (4) prognosis of negative implications on education"; (5) "robot's limitations/shortcomings inappropriate for a noble profession"; and (6) "teacher's concern over student's welfare." The researchers recommend the conduct of similar study with college students and professors of other disciplines to substantiate the initial findings.