Abstract:

As an up-to-date instructional technology, robots are increasingly finding place in learning settings. Providing students at all levels of education with the opportunity for interesting learning experiences, these tools have the same potential for individuals with special needs. This research examines studies in which robotics is used as learning materials in the education of individuals with special needs. In this scope, 25 papers addressing the use of robotics as a learning material published on ScienceDirect, Springer, ERIC, TR Index and IEEE Xplore between the years 2012 and 2021 were analyzed by using descriptive content analysis. It was found out that yield robots showed positive results as a learning material in special education settings. Studies on this topic have been seen gained momentum especially lately. The majority of the reviewed studies addressed the children/individiuals with autism, but there were also studies involving individuals with hearing and mental disability, cerebral palsy, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and Down syndrome. Lastly, it was understood that the authors of the studies usually employed humanoid robots as teaching materials, and attention was placed on skills such as social development and interaction, communication and emotional development.

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