Laura Mathex

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Laura Mathex is a researcher at the intersection of educational technology and human-robot interaction, with a focused interest in making programming accessible and intuitive for young learners. Her most cited work, "Exploring a Handwriting Programming Language for Educational Robots" (2021), introduces a novel approach that allows children to program robots using natural handwriting rather than traditional code. This contribution addresses a critical barrier in STEM education: the cognitive load of syntax for beginners. By leveraging familiar motor skills, Mathex’s research lowers the entry point for computational thinking, enabling even pre-literate students to engage with robotics. Though her work is early-stage, with the paper garnering 2 citations, its conceptual impact is notable for challenging conventional programming paradigms. Mathex’s research holds promise for inclusive education, particularly in under-resourced classrooms where screen-based tools may be limited. Her work exemplifies how human-centered design can transform robotics from a niche technical field into a universal learning tool, paving the way for more tangible, embodied approaches to teaching code.