Virginia Tech has received a grant exceeding $500,000 from the National Science Foundation to expand its robot theater program, an after-school initiative that integrates robotics and performance-based learning for children. The funding will support the development of a formal curriculum with an added emphasis on ethics in artificial intelligence and robotics.
The robot theater program was originally developed in 2015 by Myounghoon “Philart” Jeon, a professor of industrial and systems engineering at Virginia Tech. Initially launched while Jeon was at Michigan Technological University, the program combines creative arts—such as acting, dance, and music—with robotics, enabling children to interact with robots through structured learning and free play. A central component of the initiative is a final performance in which students and robots appear on stage together.
The newly funded phase will expand the curriculum to address ethical issues surrounding AI and robotics, including topics such as fairness, privacy, and bias. The research team plans to conduct needs assessments with educators and children, review existing literature, and hold workshops to identify educational gaps in how ethical considerations are introduced to young learners.
Collaborators on the project include Koeun Choi, associate professor of human development and family science, and Qin Zhu, associate professor of engineering education, who will contribute expertise in child learning and ethics, respectively.
The robot theater program has previously been implemented at several educational sites in Virginia, including Eastern Montgomery Elementary School and Virginia Tech’s Child Development Center for Learning and Research. In 2022, the program featured a climate change-themed performance using robots and live music during an event hosted by the university.
The expanded initiative will also bring the program to informal learning environments such as museums and summer workshops. All curriculum materials and associated resources are expected to be made publicly available through platforms like GitHub, allowing for adaptation and use by educators and researchers across the country.
