Bridging the Gap: Early Education on Robot and AI Ethics through the Robot Theater Platform in an Informal Learning Environment
This research paper evaluates a child-robot theater afterschool program designed to introduce robot and AI ethics to elementary school students. Conducted with 30 children, the program utilized interactive scenarios, theatrical performances, and hands-on robot interactions to explore ethical topics such as bias, fairness, transparency, privacy, and responsibility. Preliminary findings indicate that children are capable of engaging in meaningful ethical discussions and forming nuanced perspectives regarding technology.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Researchers, educators, and curriculum developers interested in early AI literacy and robot ethics education.
What the document contains
The document addresses the integration of robot and AI ethics into early childhood education through an informal afterschool program. It covers student perceptions and discussions on micro- and macro-ethical topics including fairness, bias, transparency, privacy, and responsibility.
The text does not provide formal regulatory guidelines, binding legal codes of conduct, or standardized curriculum frameworks for widespread classroom implementation.
- A child-robot theater afterschool program successfully introduced complex ethical concepts like bias and fairness to elementary school students.
- Children demonstrated nuanced understanding of robot and AI ethics, including recognizing technology reliance and privacy concerns.
- Interactive and embodied learning methods, such as role-playing in theatrical performances, make abstract ethical concepts more tangible for young learners.
- Most participating children felt that robots and AI should help all people equally and emphasized inclusivity.
- Students expressed mixed opinions on transparency, privacy, and who should be held responsible for technology mishaps.
· 1 Introduction · 2 Methods - 2.1 Participants - 2.2 Program Overview - 2.3 Robot and AI Ethics Integration - 2.4 Measurements · 3 Preliminary Results - 3.1 Fairness and Bias - 3.2 Transparency - 3.3 Privacy - 3.4 Robot and AI Uses - 3.5 Responsibility · 4 Discussion · 5 Contributions, Limitations, and Future Directions
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Fairness
3/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
One video addressed bias and fairness, featuring a human professor discriminating against a blind robot student, NAO.
2.3 Robot and AI Ethics Integration
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Dignity
1/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
The script centered around a scenario in which a new robot student faces bullying from both robot and human peers.
2.3 Robot and AI Ethics Integration
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Oversight
0/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
N/A
screening score · 2026-10-23
Privacy
3/5Protection of personal data and private life
Seventeen participants completed interview questionnaires related to privacy. Students were allowed to choose multiple answers. When asked, “Which of the things companies that made AI/robots should be able to use?
3.3 Privacy
screening score · 2026-10-23
Transparency
3/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
In response to “Should AI/robots explain why they make certain choices?” more than half of the students (N = 11) stated that robots and AI should explain their choices “only when you ask them.”
3.2 Transparency
screening score · 2026-10-23
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
N/A
screening score · 2026-10-23
Impact Assessment
3/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
Given this complexity, our research aims to evaluate the efficacy of the child -robot theater afterschool program in achieving the following objectives: Can a child -robot theater program effectively 1) introduce the topic of robot and AI ethics, 2) facilitate discussions on complex ethical topics, and 3) increase general awareness of robot and AI ethics among children?
1 INTRODUCTION
screening score · 2026-10-23