Complex thinking and robotics: a proposal for sexual and gender diversity and inclusion training

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this proposal was to propose an educational innovation resource for the delivery of workshops with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA) themes aimed at students in high school and middle school to promote complex thinking as a necessary competency for understanding their continuously changing environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Training for sexual and gender diversity challenges higher education institutions, some of which have bet on developing complex thinking to meet this need. Although not all universities have sufficient resources to create activities that foster relevant and diversity-sensitive competencies, some have implemented strategies ranging from modifying their curricula to designing specific classroom tasks that support student inclusion. In response to the challenges faced by higher education institutions (HEIs) to promote the acquisition of thinking skills for complexity, this paper proposes deploying a humanoid robot as an educational innovation tool in training initiatives that promote issues of sexual and gender diversity. The deployment model is described, considering design, delivery and evaluation. The value of this proposal lies in using humanoid robotics as a classroom resource within the framework of social robotics, considering its implications in the educational context to develop complex thinking competency and training for diversity in higher education students.

Findings

The data presented here highlight the importance of educational institutions integrating content into their plans, programs and activities (both curricular and extracurricular) that promote inclusion and sexual and gender diversity and attractive teaching strategies to reinforce this perspective. So, this proposal offers a support tool for implementing this content in everyday educational contexts where the objectives focus on triggering complex reasoning competencies.

Research limitations/implications

The varied responses and perceptions of students towards robotics and sexual diversity, as well as the lack of clear methods to assess educational outcomes, may compromise the effectiveness of the intervention.

Practical implications

The workshop proposed in this paper is configured as a series of iterations and repetitions in different educational fields, whether disciplinary (e.g. design or engineering) or transversal (e.g. entrepreneurship). The goal is to achieve educational strategies that generate a more significant impact at the institutional level. In this sense, the present proposal joins the actions implemented by other higher education institutions to make sexual and gender diversity visible to university students.

Social implications

The overall aim is to bring awareness, understanding and education to students with an inclusive, respectful and equitable perspective.

Originality/value

Social robotics is an innovative and attractive tool for young people at the higher education level. We consider our study a pioneer in the area.

Citation

Suárez-Brito, P., Alonso-Galicia, P.E., López-Orozco, C.F., Vázquez-Parra, J.C. and López-Caudana, E.O. (2024), "Complex thinking and robotics: a proposal for sexual and gender diversity and inclusion training", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 1324-1338. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-10-2023-0475