An Investigation of a Medical Terminology Learning Environment with a Robot and a Tablet

Abstract

In this study, we have examined a medical terminology learning environment with a humanoid communicative robot and a tablet. In the environment with the robot participants can see the whole body of the robot and the tablet. In the tablet only environment the body of the robot was covered with white imitation paper. Total fifteen pairs of English medical terms were selected with the same number of syllables and the same stress pattern with similar sounds. Participants were divided into two groups. One group studied the medical terms with the robot while the other group did with the tablet. In the second learning session conducted after two weeks the participants studied with the another environment. During the session quizzes of the medical terms were given before and after the study. The average scores of the quizzes improved to a similar extent in the both robot and tablet groups. However, in the memory retention test, which was taken two weeks later of the study, showed that the average score was 4.3 in the environment with a robot although 2.4 in the tablet only environment. After the investigation more participants suggested that learning with a robot was fun and could be helpful in memory retention. In fact, we observed that many of participants looked at the face of robot during the study with a robot. We think that the presence of the robot might affect psychological environment. In conclusion, the observation suggested that retention of medical terms might be affected by the learning environment with a robot.