Impact of Robotics and Geospatial Technology Interventions on Youth STEM Learning and Attitudes

Effect of an Engineering Camp on Students’ Perceptions of Engineering and Technology

“…Engineering and/or technology focused camps have been found to have positive impacts on students' views of engineering (Elam, Donham, & Soloman, 2012;Nadelson and Callahan, 2011) and technology (Nugent, Barker, Grandgenett, & Adamchuk, 2010). Additionally, outreach programs that incorporate engineering into the school curriculum have had positive impacts on students' views of engineering (Hirsch, Carpinelli, Kimmel, Rockland, & Bloom, 2007;Plant, Baylor, Doerr, & Rosenberg-Kima, 2009).…”

Robotics in K-12 Formal and Informal Learning Environments: A Review of Literature

“…Still with its cost, yet considerably cheaper, are tangible platforms like LEGO, which allow students to use programing as a conduit for controlling the actions of a robot. In conclusion, the majority of the 24 respective studies supported the notion that when students are able to observe a program realized in robotic behavior, they are provided with the opportunity for a fascinating experiment in which ideas, scientific theories, and computer code merge with the real world-thus engendering the deep and abstract understanding required for knowledge transfer and critical thinking in STEM (Nugent et al, 2010).…”

“…In the past fifteen years, researchers have taken great initiative in publishing vast quantities of articles that have demonstrated robotics' ability to stimulate enhanced comprehension and interest, namely in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) (Hussain et al, 2006;Williams et al, 2007;Nugent, 2010). Although earlier studies generally pondered the question of whether educational robots was a mere fad rather than a truly valuable educational tool, more recent publications have often presupposed their effectiveness, and instead considered strategies for optimizing the possible benefits of educational platforms.…”

“…Repeated articles generally occurred when the study was first presented at a conference and later accepted to a journal. Although minor differences in the manuscripts were occasionally present, changes were insignificant and abstracts, goals, and conclusions were always analogous (look to Nugent et al 2009 andNugent et al 2010 for an example). Detailed descriptions for each exclusion principle can be found in table 2.…”

FlowGo: An Educational Kit for Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

“…These resources are all very popular and have helped to promote these aspects of engineering as exciting components of the discipline. Research on programs and interventions that use these tools has shown that they positively impact K-12 students' achievement scores [1], conceptual learning, and attitudes toward STEM [2,3]. Science education researchers have also explored students' ideas about heat and temperature [4] and basic ideas about how water and flow work [5].…”