Does really educational robotics improve secondary school students’ course motivation, achievement and attitude?

Abstract

This study examines the impact of educational robotics applications in Information Technologies and Software courses on the motivation, attitude towards robotics, and academic achievement of 6th-grade secondary school students. The research employed pre-experimental method encompassing 112 students. Students got training in robotics using the Arduino education kit over the course of eight weeks consisted of programming and electronic concepts. Findings indicate that while students' motivation levels were moderate both before and after the implementation, there was a relative decrease in course motivation scores after the implementation. Students exhibited positive attitudes towards robotics and achieved a good level of success. Additionally, a significant effect of motivation on attitudes towards robotics was observed. Gender was found to have no effects on motivation, attitude, or achievement. It was determined that students held positive attitudes towards robotics and developed favorable views of their robotics skills. The implications are discussed in terms of theoretical insights, practices and directions for further research.