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COVID-19

COVID-19 Pandemic's Lasting Effects on Robotics Education

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Research conducted by the School of Computer Science and Engineering has revealed the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on robotics education. The study, published in the IEEE Access journal, surveyed instructors on their use of equipment and access methods in hands-on robotics activities. The findings indicate that the pandemic has had a lasting effect on the way instructors approach teaching, with many adopting new methods and technologies to continue hands-on learning during the lockdowns.

Key Takeaways:

  • Simulation emerged as the most popular form of equipment used in robotics hands-on activities, with nearly all instructors reporting its regular use.
  • Robot hardware was less frequently used, with approximately 24% of instructors not regularly using it in labs.
  • Data-sets were popular for occasional use, while in-presence, online, and take-home access methods were often used in combination.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift towards online and remote access to robots, with take-home robotics hardware being more popular than online access.
  • Instructors with more than 10 years of teaching experience showed less pronounced effects of the pandemic, but there was a clear sentiment that the pandemic had lasting effects on hands-on teaching in robotics.
  • The pandemic led to experimentation with new forms of hands-on teaching, with some changes being kept after the pandemic.
  • Andreas Birk from the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Constructor University in Bremen, Germany, led the research.

Statistics:

  • 24% of instructors do not regularly use robot hardware in labs.
  • Simulation is used by nearly all instructors (99% or more) in robotics hands-on activities.
  • Data-sets are used occasionally by a significant number of instructors (greater than 50%).
  • Take-home robotics hardware is more popular than online access for remote use.

Sources:

  • In-Presence, Take-Home, and Online Education: The State of Equipment Use and Practices in Robotics Labs and Other Hands-On Activities. IEEE Access, 2025,13():171984-171997.
  • Virus Weekly. October 21, 2025; p 384.

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