Build Your Own Robot Friend: An Open-Source Learning Module for Accessible and Engaging AI Education

AI education needs to be more accessible: The paper identifies that current AI curricula fail to reach students from different socio-economic backgrounds and educational goals, highlighting a significant gap in who gets to learn about AI technologies that will shape society.

Hands-on learning with robots makes AI concepts tangible: By having students build their own robot companion, the module allows learners to understand practical applications of machine learning, robotics, and software engineering rather than learning these concepts abstractly, making AI education more engaging and concrete.

Human-centered AI and ethics should be taught from the start: The module emphasizes that students need hands-on experience understanding human-AI interaction and ethical considerations through building socially assistive robots, not just technical skills—suggesting ethics education should be integrated into foundational AI learning.

Open-source and affordable materials democratize AI learning: By using open-source documentation and affordable materials, the module enables students from minority-serving institutions and lower-income backgrounds to personalize their AI education, addressing equity barriers in who can access quality AI learning experiences.

Usability testing with diverse student populations validates design: The authors conducted evaluation with 15 college students from a minority-serving institution, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring the module actually works for the populations it aims to serve, rather than assuming one-size-fits-all AI education approaches.