Designing an Intro to HRI Course 

Overview

Human-robot interaction has established itself as an independent field of study, with a field-specific conference and journal. Some universities are even beginning to offer Masters and PhD degrees in HRI. Beyond that, dozens of stand-alone HRI courses are taught at universities around the world. In the last fifteen years, there have been published papers, workshops, and journal special issues discussing what should be taught about this very interdisciplinary field.

Despite these efforts, there is still no agreement on what comprises a well designed fundamental HRI course. Because there is no agreed-upon curriculum, educators are left to put together their own materials, and the content of one course may or may not overlap with the content of another. While educators should always be able to put their own spin on a course, it would help the field to have an idea of what the fundamentals of HRI are and how they could be taught.

In this workshop, we aim to reach community consensus on what should be covered in an introductory university course on HRI. Through panels, breakout groups, and discussions, we will probe the many approaches to teaching HRI and attempt to distill the core concepts that represent the most fundamental HRI knowledge. At the end of the workshop, we hope to produce a short paper describing an example HRI curriculum, as well as a syllabus that can serve as a model for future course development.

Objectives

• Forge a community consensus on the core concepts pivotal to an introductory HRI course.

• Explore diverse teaching approaches and methodologies used in HRI education.

• Distill fundamental HRI knowledge into a cohesive framework for an undergraduate curriculum.

• Produce a short article describing an HRI curriculum, best practices, and future challenges identified during the workshop. We aim to publish this article in a venue like IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine.

This workshop presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the standardization and enhancement of HRI education. Join us in fostering consensus and developing a foundational curriculum that will drive the next generation of HRI scholars and practitioners.

Workshop Format

The workshop will be highly interactive and in-person only, featuring panels, breakout groups, and discussions to delve into the various approaches for teaching HRI. Participants will engage in collaborative sessions aimed at distilling essential HRI knowledge and formulating a consensus on key curriculum components. Notes taken during the workshop will form the basis for a future article, and workshop attendees will be invited to contribute to that article after the workshop.