Lingyan Zhang

Zhejiang University of Science and Technology

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Lingyan Zhang is a researcher at the intersection of early childhood education, human-robot interaction, and STEM learning. Her work centers on designing and studying tangible, play-based technologies that engage young children in complex scientific and engineering concepts. Zhang’s most cited study, “A study of children’s learning and play using an underwater robot construction kit” (2022), exemplifies this focus. In this work, she investigated how children aged 5–8 collaboratively built and programmed underwater robots, demonstrating that such hands-on, immersive activities significantly enhance problem-solving skills, creativity, and conceptual understanding of buoyancy and mechanics. With 8 citations, this paper is a foundational contribution to the emerging field of “underwater robotics education.” Zhang’s broader impact lies in bridging developmental psychology with robotics design, showing that even very young learners can engage with authentic engineering practices when given appropriate, playful tools. Her research has implications for curriculum design, museum exhibits, and inclusive STEM outreach, particularly for underrepresented groups. By foregrounding children’s agency and joy in learning, Zhang is helping to reshape how we think about early technology education—not as screen time, but as embodied, collaborative discovery.