Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Dr. Victoria Knight is a leading researcher in special education technology, whose work has pioneered the integration of robotics and coding instruction for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and challenging behaviors. Her research focuses on developing and validating evidence-based interventions that make STEM education accessible to neurodiverse learners. Through her most-cited studies, which have collectively garnered over 90 citations, Dr. Knight has established the efficacy of video prompting and block-based coding as instructional tools for teaching robotics to middle and high school students with ASD. Her 2019 paper on teaching digital coding to students with ASD and challenging behavior (40 citations) represents a landmark contribution, demonstrating that even learners with severe behavioral needs can successfully engage in complex computational thinking tasks. By adapting video-based modeling—traditionally used for social and daily living skills—to STEM contexts, Dr. Knight has expanded the application of this evidence-based practice into a critical academic domain. Her work not only provides practical, replicable teaching strategies for educators but also challenges assumptions about who can participate in computer science education, making her a transformative figure in inclusive STEM pedagogy.