Bringing robotics in classrooms

Abstract

Learning with educational robotics provides students, who usually are the consumers of technology, with opportunities to stop, question, and think deeply about technology. When designing, constructing, programming, and documenting the development of autonomous robots or robotics projects, students not only learn how technology works, but they also apply the skills and content knowledge learned in school in a meaningful and exciting way. Educational robotics is rich with opportunities to integrate not only STEM but also many other disciplines, including literacy, social studies, dance, music, and art, while giving students the opportunity to find ways to work together to foster collaboration skills, express themselves using the technological tool, problem-solve, and think critically and innovatively. Educational robotics is a learning tool that enhances students' learning experience through hands-on mind-on learning. Most importantly, educational robotics provides a fun and exciting learning environment because of its hands-on nature and the integration of technology. The engaging learning environment motivates students to learn whatever skills and knowledge needed for them to accomplish their goals in order to complete the projects of their interest. For school-age children, most robotics activities have mainly been part of informal education, such as after school programs and summer camps (Benitti in Computers & Education, 58:978-988, 2012; Eguchi 2007b; Sklar and Eguchi in Proceedings of RoboCup-2004: Robot Soccer World Cup VIII, 2004), even though it has the potential to make learning more effective in formal education. It is very difficult for teachers to include robotics in regular curriculum because of the heavy focus on standardized testing and pressure to cover academic standards set by the government and/or their States. This chapter aims to promote robotics in classroom by connecting robotics learning with various STEM curriculum standards.