Development of Basic Spatial Notions Through Work with Educational Robotics in the Early Childhood Education Classroom and Analysis of Qualitative Data with WebQDA Software

Abstract

With the current research work, it is intended to develop basic spatial concepts (front, back, up, down, right and left) through a didactic proposal based on the use of educational robotics in the classroom of Early Childhood Education. The Roamer Robot is specifically used for the potential it offers to adapt to pupils’ needs and the characteristics of all activities. For the work in the classroom, a series of contextualised activities are presented in different types of content, which is why Roamer’s versatility as a learning tool is enhanced. With this research project we intend to know the differences on the acquisition of these concepts before and after the intervention in the classroom with the Roamer robot. For this, a qualitative approach research has been designed using as investigation instruments an experimental test and a drawing test that have been adapted to the evolutive characteristics of children in Early Childhood Education. The WebQDA software has been used to support the qualitative data analysis. In general, it is concluded that the work with robotics in the Early Childhood Education classroom improves the acquisition of basic spatial concepts in these pupils. However, the right and left concepts are still the most complicated to acquire and assimilate.