Enhancing IoT Education with an Educational Robot: A Case Study on Hands-On Learning

In today's fast-paced world, the integration of educational robots into the Internet of Things (IoT)-related courses has proven to be a game-changer. This paper presents a case study on the integration of IoTXplorBot—a low-cost, open-source educational robot—into an IoT curriculum to enhance hands-on learning. A comparative experiment was conducted within an IoT course, divided into traditional and experimental groups. While the control group used simulation tools and development kits, the experimental group engaged in progressively challenging activities using the IoTXplorBot. Results showed a significant increase in learning outcomes, with the experimental group outperforming the control group in final project scores (63.9 vs. 53.4), creativity, and engagement. Qualitative feedback from students underscored the robot's positive influence on their motivation and learning journey. The study concludes that integrating an open-source and open-design robot into the educational process can significantly enhance IoT education by effectively bridging the gap between theoretical instruction and real-world application.