Veerle L. N. F. Hobbelink
Papers
1
Total Citations
66
H-Index
1
About
Veerle L. N. F. Hobbelink is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of educational technology and human-robot interaction, with a primary focus on leveraging social robots to enhance language acquisition. Her most influential work, "Social Robots for (Second) Language Learning in (Migrant) Primary School Children" (2021, 66 citations), directly addresses the urgent need for innovative educational support by empirically comparing the effectiveness of social robots versus tablets. Hobbelink’s major contribution lies in demonstrating that embodied, interactive robots can significantly boost young learners’ engagement, enjoyment, and performance in second-language contexts—a finding with profound implications for migrant education and classroom inclusivity. By systematically measuring these outcomes, she has provided robust evidence that social robots offer unique advantages over screen-based tools, particularly for children who may lack motivation or face language barriers. Her research not only advances theoretical understanding of child-robot interaction but also offers practical, scalable solutions for overburdened primary schools. Hobbelink’s work stands out for its timely, applied focus, bridging cutting-edge robotics with real-world educational challenges, and has established her as a key voice in the growing field of socially assistive robotics for learning.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1