Dealing with Learning Vulnerability: Service Robots to Nudge Student Engagement

In recent years, the traditional learning environment has experienced disruptions. The pandemic has harmed students’ mental health, leaving them vulnerable. Distance learning has presented significant challenges, underscoring the importance of involving students in the provision of educational services. Service robots have emerged as tools capable of addressing needs or desires in a way that resembles human interactions. These technologies play a distinct role in the learning process of students, acting as “smart nudges” that enhance overall engagement levels. By actively engaging groups of students in various learning contexts and analysing their lived experiences through a narrative analysis of collected diaries, this study contributes to service research with a novel perspective on the potential of “smart nudging” enabled by service robots in educational settings.