THE BENEFITS OF ARTBOTS ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION & SOCIETY

Dr. Anastasia Zoi SOULIOTOU
 Adjunct Lecturer (University of West Attica, University of Thessaly, University of Western Macedonia), Post-doctoral Researcher (University of Thessaly), GREECE, asouliotou@gmail.com

Abstract

The aim of this research is to present the benefits of working with artbots in education and to investigate further benefits for society. The methods which are implemented in order to reach this aim are related to children's and other audiences' participation in contemporary art practices as well as educational activities which involve artbots. These practices and activities are rich and diverse ranging from drawing with artbots (with or without coding) to producing small-scale theatrical pieces, happenings and films. However, all the activities presented in this paper are interdisciplinary and involve or connect the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) fields. Another common characteristic of all the activities is that they communicate human values through messages of love and peace as well as through references to beauty, harmony, festivity, mobility, interconnectedness and other qualities of the contemporary living conditions. Which are the learning outcomes and what impact do these practices and activities have on the audiences? In order to give an answer to these questions it is important to take into consideration the different age and social groups as well as the contexts where these activities take place. It is also interesting to see these activities through and beyond STEAM education by highlighting the implementation of the Arts as a way to blaze new trails for fostering creative and innovative thinking. The artbots activities presented in this paper can be easily carried out in various intercultural, intergenerational and interdisciplinary contexts and they can bring together people by bridging many kinds of gaps. This means that artbots activities are a promising field of research and creation in education with multiple opportunities for original activities which benefit education and society

Keywords: artbots, art, technology, STEAM education, theatre, interdisciplinary practices