Viability of Robot-supported Flipped Classes in English for Medical Use Reading Comprehension

TL;DR

This study investigates the viability of robot-supported flipped classes for English for Medical Purposes reading comprehension in postsecondary education. It introduces a custom Safir robot and compares Commercially-Off-The-Shelf versus self-generated augmented reality activities across 16 sessions with 444 EMP students, analyzed via a Linear Mixed-Effects Model. The results show that self-generated robot-assisted flipped classes yield a larger improvement in progress, with a +17.6% effect, and identify reading proficiency, attitude, practicing manner, and roles of students and teachers as key moderators for reading and workspace performance. The findings support constructivist and situated-learning perspectives, highlighting that effective robot-enhanced ESP instruction relies on active, interdisciplinary, and student-generated activities, with practical implications for scalable, authentic EMP learning in higher education.

Abstract

This study delved into the viability of Robot-supported flipped classes in English for Medical Purposes reading comprehension. In a 16-session course, the reading comprehension and then workspace performance of 444 students, with Commercially-Off-The-Shelf and Self-Generated robot flipped classes were compared. The results indicated that the flipped classes brought about a good instructional-learning ambience in postsecondary education for English for Medical Purposes (EMP) reading comprehension and adopting proactive approach for workspace performance. In tandem, the Mixed Effect Model revealed that student participation in the self-generated robot-supported flipped classes yielded a larger effect size (+17.6%) than Commercially-Off-The-Shelf robot-supported flipped classes. Analyses produced five contributing moderators of EMP reading comprehension and workspace performance: reading proficiency, attitude, manner of practicing, as well as student and teacher role.

Figures (2)

• Figure 1: The Safir Robot.
• Figure 2: The make-up of circles.