Why Robotics?
There are multiple reasons to teach with robotics in different subjects, not just in computer or programming classes. For one thing, learning to design, program, and use robots can give students a competitive lead in the future as robotics are becoming more commonplace in many different fields. Perhaps more important, "...it has the power to motivate young students, either as a field of knowledge in itself to learn complex notions in an almost play-like environment, or as a tool to present technology and other subjects to those students in an attractive and motivating manner" (Amo, Fonesca & Poyatos, 2021). Amo, Fonesca, and Poyatos found that many teachers and researchers who implemented robotics in their curriculum were combining the engineering and programming aspects of it with different subjects, such as physics.
So why robotics? Because robotics give students the opportunity to bring learning from one subject into another with hands-on experience while they learn.
What to Teach?
I may not be alone (but maybe I am!) in not knowing where to start with teaching robotics. The fact of the matter is that it isn't a programming skill alone. Building robots it's very hands-on and includes many different skills, programming including. Students can also learn engineering skills, including electrical and mechanical engineering (Rihtarsic, Avsec, & Kocijancic, 2015). While younger students, especially in elementary school, may not be ready for some of the more complex engineering skills, but they can still learn to work creatively with both the computer and physical components. Rihtarsic, Avsec and Kocijancic do note several middle schools in their studies who had success teaching their students the different components.
There are also a ton of online resources with ideas for teaching students with robotics. We explored some of these in class this week. Some of the benefits of these are that students can use block coding and pre-designed activities. Some of the activities even include tips to help them troubleshoot on their own if they get stuck.
Takeaway
My own take away from learning to code robots using a simulator this week is that it is a great way to practice using the design process. A study by Kalothi-Hallak, Armoni and Ben-Ari (2019) discusses this in more detail using middle-school students who participated in the FIRST LEGO League competition as an example. Not only did participating in this competition help students learn to use the engineering design process, it also showed that competitions promote teamwork. If teaching robotics in the classroom could incorporate some low-stakes competitions, students would benefit from working together to find problems, brainstorm, research, create robots and programs, test and reassess together.
And so my research has suggested that there are a multitude of reasons to teach with robotics in K-12, and that it engages many skills and learning opportunities beyond computer programming alone. It gives teachers the opportunity to help students tie subjects and ideas together and it gives students the opportunity to work hands-on with creative and complex projects as they develop the needed skills.
References
Amo, D., Fonesca, D., & Poyatos, C. (2021). Systematic review on which analytics and learning methodologies are applied in primary and secondary education in the learning of robotics sensors. Sensors, 21(153). https://doi.org/10.3390/s21010153
Kalothi-Hallak, F., Armoni, M., Ben-Ari, M. (2019). The effect of robotics activities on learning the engineering design process. Information Education, 18(1), 105-129. https://doi.org/10.15388/infedu.2019.05
Rihtarsic, D., Avsec, S., & Kocijancic, S. (2015). Experiential learning of electronics subject matter in middle school robotics courses. International Journal of Technology & Design Eductation, (26), 205-224. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-015-9310-7
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