Examining social robot examples in early childhood education curriculums

Abstract

The use of artificial intelligence in education has been a topic of frequent discussion as of recent. In this context, the integration of artificial intelligence into education programs is extremely important. Robots serve as educational tools that can be used to effectively integrate artificial intelligence into educational programs. Social robots/humanoid robots can be used in educational programs due to their engaging characteristics for children, including human-like appearance, speech capabilities, responsiveness, and mobility. Especially for children in early childhood, social robots can be motivating. In this context, the aim of this study is to examine sample applications regarding the use of social robots in early childhood education programs. The document analysis technique was used in the study conducted with a qualitative research design. The documents of the research cover scientific studies (articles, theses, and books) conducted between 2015 and 2025 with the keywords “preschool,” “early childhood,” “social robots,” and “curriculum.” In this context, data analysis was conducted through content analysis, and the data were analyzed in three themes: PopBots, KİBO, and SoRo. As a result of the research, it is seen that the use of social robots in early childhood education programs has increased in recent years; social robots are readily accepted by children due to their human-like characteristics, and classroom practices in interaction with them contribute to children's social interactions, making friends, and cognitive reasoning regarding the robots.