I commend the authors for their review, “A Holistic Approach to Use Educational Robots for Supporting Computer Science Courses,” which presents an intriguing perspective on leveraging FOSSBot, an open-source educational robot, as a versatile platform for engaging students in computer science curricula. The discussion effectively highlights the robot’s modularity, adaptability, and its alignment with diverse educational objectives, from electronics to artificial intelligence. By showcasing FOSSBot’s Python-based environment and IoT capabilities, the paper offers a practical and innovative approach to hands-on learning. However, the claims of FOSSBot’s suitability for supporting an entire curriculum lack empirical robustness. The evaluation is based on a small sample size and limited experimental data, with inconsistent results between classroom activities and final projects, leaving its broader applicability unproven. Moreover, the discussion of technical scalability, especially for advanced topics like machine learning and computer vision, is too cursory to substantiate the feasibility of its implementation across diverse courses.
Additionally, the paper misses an opportunity to critically address the practical and ethical challenges of integrating such technology into higher education. Concerns about the training requirements for educators, the infrastructure needed for deployment, and the cost implications of additional hardware for advanced functionalities are underexplored. Furthermore, while the authors emphasize FOSSBot’s open-source nature, a comparative analysis with established alternatives like LEGO EV3 or mBot is absent, weakening claims of its superior cost-effectiveness and versatility. Ethical considerations, including accessibility for resource-constrained institutions and inclusivity in curriculum design, are also insufficiently discussed. Addressing these gaps through rigorous evaluation, detailed technical analysis, and a deeper exploration of implementation barriers would significantly strengthen the paper’s contribution to advancing educational robotics.