STUDIES have shown that robotics have a potential impact on students’ learning, and also on personal development including cognitive, meta-cognitive and social skills.
These include research, creative thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, communication and team-working skills – all of which are essential in the workplace of the 21st Century.
It is increasingly important that the next generation of students acquire the above-mentioned skills to succeed in their career.
Technology plays a crucial role in the assimilation of these skills.
Robotics has attracted a high interest from teachers and researchers as a valuable tool to develop cognitive and social skills in students.
Educational robotics has emerged as a unique learning tool that can offer hands-on, fun activities in an attractive learning environment, feeding students’ interest and curiosity.
This growing field has the potential to significantly impact the nature of science and technology education at all levels, from kindergarten to university.
Over the years, several robot construction kits for edutainment applications have been designed to improve and increase interaction between users and robotics artifacts.
Robotics is a particularly motivating technology because it is concrete, complex, and relate to deep human needs.
STEM education is an educational approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into a cohesive learning paradigm based on real-world applications.
Given the current shortage of student interest in STEM education, increased attention has been given to the appeal and attraction of robotics.
Educational robotics allows students to find new ways to work together, encourage collaboration skills and express themselves using technological tools, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Educational robotics is a learning tool that provides a fun and exciting learning environment because of its hands-on nature and the integration of technology.
Lego Mindstorms is an assembly kit that contains building block pieces and a programmable control unit that can enable one to build several robots. Among the different models available, Ev3 is particularly designed for educational use.
Lego Mindstorms allows users to assemble robots, and programme the movement, interface sensors, and motors without focusing on technical details.
The process of assembling and making the robot work involves basic understanding of physical and design principles and elementary programming skills.
Robotics education can be traced to constructionism which is based on the idea that human beings learn better when they are involved in planning and building artifacts that are significant to them, and which they can then share with the community.
The integration of robotics in education can provide students the opportunity to develop interactive thinking. Within a constructivist learning environment, students could manage their learning.
Also, students can cultivate mathematical and scientific skills. Students can understand the connection between theory and practice, as well as link what they learn within the classroom to reality and nature.
In the 21st Century learning context, engaging students with technology is an important pedagogy to gain attention and increase motivation among students.
The use of robotics will improve students’ problem-solving and algorithmic skills. Students will have an opportunity to engage in authentic activities.
Such experience is essential in the transfer of learning to real-life scenarios. Additionally, the process of planning, assembling, and operating robots can stimulate creative thought and encourage critical thinking.
Robotics learning usually takes place in groups and collaboration among peers and the social interaction process can further enhance the complex learning process.
By recognising the potential of robotics learning, educational planners around the world are implementing various initiatives in schools to provide an opportunity for students of all ages to learn with robots.
It is expected that these initiatives will grow further in the years to come, and teachers and students can fully exploit the efficacies of robotics.
It has been well recognised that the world is changing rapidly, and innovative ways of teaching are necessary to scaffold learners and challenge them with novel problems. Robotics will play a crucial role in achieving this.
Dr Ernest Afari,
Assistant Professor,
Mathematics, Science & ICT Education,
Bahrain Teachers College,
University of Bahrain.
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