Comprehensive reviews of literature and data that specifically address the intersection of social robotics, social care, and the social professions.
Scoping review 1: statistics and trends
Scoping review 2: technological state-of-the-art
Scoping review 3: Ethical and social issues
Scoping review 4: National and EU policy frameworks
Scoping report 5: Pedagogy
Position paper: Ethical and social challenges: identifying key issues for social robotics
Case study 1: 'Robot baby'
Nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and policy makers are presented with the underlying pedagogical framework for the robot baby intervention. Ethical, social, economic, cultural perspectives and dilemmas are being presented and discussed.
Case study 2: 'Social robotics and dementia'
The focus of this case study has yet to be determined, and will be shaped by the progress of the project. Two ideas have been considered to date:
Output Description: 1. Many clients use toy dolls as a 'comfort blanket', especially those in late stage dementia who have reverted to their childhood. The case study will examine the feasibility of using 'robot doll' as a substitute for toy dolls that clients currently to see is there any marked increase in client satisfaction/comfort.
or
2. The case study will examine the use of AI/social robotics to enhance client safety in the home. One of the recurring issues for people with dementia is 'wandering'. This can be a safety issue especially at night. Could we use AI or a social robot to detect and protect unwanted wandering during the night?
In either case, what practical, professional, ethical and social issues are involved and how can these be related to pedagogic concerns?
Pedagogical approaches to teaching about social robotics
Implementation of social robotics in the field of social services requires a new kind of educational approach and development of new kind of skills and competence. On the basis of outcome of WPs 2-5 this output will consist of the general curricular guidelines for education in relevant fields: pedagogy, special pedagogy, social work etc.
On the basis of the analyses of the potential issues according to implementation of social robotics in the field of social services we will prepare a document that will contain general guidelines according to what topics should be addressed in education of future social service workers:
a) what changes in social relations and work conditions will social robotics bring?
b) what attitudes of future social workers will be required in relation to social robotics?
c) what competences of workers shall be developed?
d) what kind of ‘soft skills’ will be required?
e) some propositions about sources of knowledge about social robotics and its consequences
f) cultural differences in reactions to social robotics and its consequences for education.
The prepared document will be a reference point for bodies responsible for preparation of curriculum in particular contexts of different countries. It will be also a reference point as the strategic document for schools and teachers preparing courses and modules in relevant fields of education on the upper secondary and tertiary level.
Academic article 1
The output will be an academic article on the theme of the project, for submission to a high quality academic journal, for example International Journal of Social Robotics, Innovations in Teaching and Learning International or Research on Social Work Practice.
The article will be innovative as literature searches to date (eg Google Scholar, Web of Science, ERIC database) reveal few articles that address issues of social robotics, care and professional identity.
The article will be widely available to scholars, practitioners and students and, subject to the intellectual property policies of the specific journal, a preprint version will be made available on the project website. In addition a presentation based on the article will be made at the final project symposium (E6).
Academic article 2
The output will be an academic article on the theme of the project, for submission to a high quality academic journal, for example International Journal of Social Robotics, Innovations in Teaching and Learning International or Research on Social Work Practice.
The article will be innovative as literature searches to date (eg Google Scholar, Web of Science, ERIC database) reveal few articles that address issues of social robotics, care and professional identity.
The article will be widely available to scholars, practitioners and students and, subject to the intellectual property policies of the specific journal, a preprint version will be made available on the project website. In addition a presentation based on the article will be made at the final project symposium (E6).
Conference paper/workshop: Social robotics and social care
Paper/workshop for FESET conference, Arhus, May 2018. The theme of this conference is most appropriate to this project: 'Ethical dilemmas in socio-cultural care work: Challenges in a rapidly changing world'.
The output will be innovative in that the topic of social robotics and its interaction with social care/pedagogy has not yet been considered in any depth at a FESET event. FESET is the European professional association for social care/pedagogy/education.
FESET events typically attract 200-250 professionals, educators, practitioners and students from across Europe and more broadly, so this presentation/workshop will have a high capacity to facilitate transferability of project outputs.
In addition the presentation will be published on the project website.