RoboSTEAM project the pilot phases

Abstract

Digital society demands very qualified professionals ready to this environment challenges. This makes necessary to foster the development of competences related to such context such as Computational Thinking or STEAM related skills. However, this is not an easy task, especially because integrating subjects that covers the necessary topics and competences. New active pedagogical approaches are required and this what RoboSTEAM project provides. The application of Challenge Based Learning and Physical Devices and Robotics facilitate the so named twenty first century skills. The project has been developed by several universities and schools and one of most critical parts was testing the methodology and tools, this was done into pilot phases that are described in the present work. The results show that there are important differences between partners socioeconomical context, but that the outcomes of the project are flexible enough to be applied successfully in any of them.

Co-Learning Computational and Design Thinking Using Educational Robotics: A Case of Primary School Learners in Namibia

“…It is seen in the literature that learning programming with visual tools has a lot of positive outcomes especially for children [ 14 ]. Visual programming tools play an important role in learning and teaching robotics and it is clear in the literature that robotics can be used to support learning in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) [ 5 , 29 , 30 ]. STEAM involves the designing and creation products using a combination of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics fields [ 5 ].…”

“…Among others, MindsInAction in Namibia equips grades 4 to 12 learners with robotics skills and sparks interest in the STEAM field in them by exploring robotics, mechatronics, coding and electronics [ 9 ]. Scholars argue that countries need to prepare for continual and unforeseen shifts in technological and economical shifts by centering their educational systems around STEAM for all the subjects/courses regardless of the educational level, be it primary, secondary or tertiary level [ 5 ].…”

“…The loop structure is considered to be one of the challenging topics to understand in programming [ 37 , 38 ]. Teaching methods could be the contributing factor to this, because it is evident that some teaching pedagogies used not only in African schools but also in other parts of the world are not engaging the students [ 5 ]. The latter is the reason why selected institutions in Africa made an effort to include educational robotics in their curricula really to improve teaching and learning because ER is considered to be more effective and more engaging and triggers motivation in students [ 11 ].…”

“…Educational Robotics (ER) involves the teaching of how robotics applications and systems can be designed, analyzed and operated [ 3 ]. For children, getting to know robotics at an early stage prepares them for the future and for the opportunities that robotics bring about because this will make them the producers of robotics technologies and not only the consumers of robotics products [ 4 , 5 ].…”