Literature review of robotics learning devices to facilitate the development of computational thinking in early childhood

Abstract

Computational Thinking is introduced as a problem-solving ability that is important for future generations to master. The mastery of computational thinking skills from an early age prepares children to anticipate competition and pursue success in the future. Robotics devices are widely advocated as interactive learning media to facilitate Computational Thinking development. Educational robotics have grown from ideas that represent critical stages of Computational Thinking. The application of robotics in teaching computational thinking skills is increasingly used and is evident in the literature. The paper reviews the development of an innovative robotics device in facilitating understanding of computational thinking in young children in terms of several aspects of computational thinking indicators. A review was also conducted to see the advantages and disadvantages of commercially available robotics devices. This paper was prepared by applying critical analysis methods to the literature published from 1952 to 2017 in international journals and proceedings. As a recommendation for future research, this paper proposes for an educational robotic development that facilitates the of computational thinking skills, especially for early childhood education.