scholarly journals Pre-service and in-service teachers’ interest, knowledge, and self-confidence in using educational robotics in learning activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e3345
Author(s):  
João Manuel Nunes Piedade

This paper presents a study that aims to analyze the interest, knowledge, problem-solving skills, and self-confidence of the pre-service and in-service teachers in using educational robotics for teaching purposes, in particular, to teach programming and computational thinking in primary and secondary education. In the portuguese context, it is mandatory to attend a masters in teaching in order to become a teacher in primary and secondary education. These pre-service teacher training programs are organized in several dimensions, such as specific didactics, general education, scientific area. Computational Thinking, programming, and robotics have been integrated into the schools’ curriculum in many countries. Accordingly, it is essential to analyze the teachers’ preparation to teach these thematic trends. A descriptive and exploratory quantitative approach was implemented with 49 participants. The results pointed out a positive level of interest, educational robotics knowledge, problem-solving, self-confidence of both pre-service and in-service teachers.

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Daniel Amo ◽  
Paul Fox ◽  
David Fonseca ◽  
César Poyatos

Robotics technology has become increasingly common both for businesses and for private citizens. Primary and secondary schools, as a mirror of societal evolution, have increasingly integrated science, technology, engineering and math concepts into their curricula. Our research questions are: “In teaching robotics to primary and secondary school students, which pedagogical-methodological interventions result in better understanding and knowledge in the use of sensors in educational robotics?”, and “In teaching robotics to primary and secondary school students, which analytical methods related to Learning Analytics processes are proposed to analyze and reflect on students’ behavior in their learning of concepts and skills of sensors in educational robotics?”. To answer these questions, we have carried out a systematic review of the literature in the Web of Science and Scopus databases regarding robotics sensors in primary and secondary education, and Learning Analytics processes. We applied PRISMA methodology and reviewed a total of 24 articles. The results show a consensus about the use of the Learning by Doing and Project-Based Learning methodologies, including their different variations, as the most common methodology for achieving optimal engagement, motivation and performance in students’ learning. Finally, future lines of research are identified from this study.


10.28945/4327 ◽  
2019 ◽  

Aim/Purpose: Science is becoming a computational endeavor therefore Computational Thinking (CT) is gradually being accepted as a required skill for the 21st century science student. Students deserve relevant conceptual learning accessible through practical, constructionist approaches in cross-curricular applications therefore it is required for educators to define, practice and assess practical ways of introducing CT to science education starting from elementary school. Background: Computational Thinking is a set of problem-solving skills evolving from the computer science field. This work-in-progress research assesses the CT skills, along with science concepts, of students participating in a science program in school. The program pertains learning science by modeling and simulating real world phenomenon using an agent-based modeling practice. Methodology: This is an intervention research of a science program. It takes place as part of structured learning activities of 4th and 5th grade classes which are teacher-guided and are conducted in school. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluations are parts of the mixed methods research methodology using a variety of evaluation technique, including pretests and posttests, surveys, artifact-based interviews, in class observations and project evaluations. Contribution: CT is an emerging skill in learning science. It is requiring school systems to give increased attention for promoting students with the opportunity to engage in CT activities alongside with ways to promote a deeper understanding of science. Currently there is a lack of practical ways to do so and lack of methods to assess the results therefore it is an educational challenge. This paper presents a response to this challenge by proposing a practical program for school science courses and an assessment method. Findings: This is a research in progress which finding are based on a pilot study. The researches believe that findings may indicate improved degree of students' science understanding and problem-solving skills. Recommendations for Practitioners: Formulating computer simulations by students can have great potential on learning science with embedded CT skills. This approach could enable learners to see and interact with visualized representations of natural phenomena they create. Although most teachers do not learn about CT in their initial education, it is of paramount importance that such programs, as the one described in this research, will assist teachers with the opportunity to introduce CT into science studies. Recommendation for Researchers: Scientific simulation design in primary school is at its dawn. Future research investment and investigation should focus on assessment of aspects of the full Computational Thinking for Science taxonomy. In addition, to help teachers assess CT skills, new tools and criteria are required. Impact on Society: STEM related professions are lacking the man power required therefore the full potential of the economy of developed countries is not fulfilled. Having students acquire computational thinking skills through formal education may prepare the next generation of world class scientists and attract larger populations to these fields. Future Research: The inclusion of computational thinking as a core scientific practice in the Next Generation Science Standards is an important milestone, but there is still much work to do toward addressing the challenge of CT-Science education to grow a generation of technologically and scientifically savvy individuals. New comprehensive approaches are needed to cope with the complexity of cognitive processes related to CT.


2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Peel ◽  
Patricia Friedrichsen

One of the eight Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) scientific practices is using mathematics and computational thinking (CT). CT is not merely a data analysis tool, but also a problem-solving tool. By utilizing computing concepts, people can sequentially and logically solve complex science and engineering problems. In this article, we share a successful lesson using protein synthesis to teach CT. This lesson focuses primarily on modeling and simulation practices with an extension activity focusing on the computational problem-solving practices of CT. We identify and define five CT concepts within the aforementioned practices that form the foundation of CT: algorithm, abstraction, iteration, branching, and variable. In this lesson, we utilize a game to familiarize students with CT basics, and then use their new CT foundation to design, construct, and evaluate algorithms within the context of protein synthesis. As an optional extension to the lesson, students enter the problem-solving environment to create a program that translates mRNA triplet codons to an amino acid chain. We argue that biology classrooms are ideal contexts for CT learning because biological processes function as a system, and understanding how the system functions requires algorithmic thinking and problem-solving skills.


2020 ◽  
pp. 073563312096731
Author(s):  
Nadia Parsazadeh ◽  
Pei-Yu Cheng ◽  
Ting-Ting Wu ◽  
Yueh-Min Huang

This paper examines a method which can be used by instructors pursuing innovative methods for language teaching, which expands learners’ motivation in second language learning. Computational thinking (CT) is a problem-solving skill which can motivate students’ English language learning. Designing a learning activity which integrates CT into English language learning has been considered in only a few academic studies. This study aimed to explore whether integrating CT into English language learning can be useful for improving learners’ motivation and performance. The method of “present, practice, and produce” was applied as a method of presenting computational thinking in the English language learning classroom. Fifty-two elementary school students (52) participated in the experimental study. Following an experimental design, data were collected and analyzed from a combination of knowledge test scores, storytelling, motivation, and anxiety surveys. The experimental results indicate that the CT strategy improves students’ language learning and raises their motivation in the two dimensions of extrinsic and intrinsic goal orientation. These results imply the positive effect of CT strategy on strengthening problem-solving skills of students participating in digital storytelling and increases their motivation and performance in English language learning.


Author(s):  
Youngseok Lee Et.al

Background/Objectives: In the 21st century, communication and collaboration between people is an important element of talent. As artificial intelligence (AI), the cutting edge of computer science, develops, AI and collaboration will become important in the near future. Methods/Statistical analysis: To achieve this, it is necessary to understand how artificial AI based on computer science works, and how problem-based programming education is effective in computer science education. In this study, 177 college students who received programming education focused on problem-solving learning were identified with computational thinking (CT) at the beginning of the semester, and their satisfaction and post-education satisfaction survey showed that their attitudes and interests influenced their education. Findings: To pretest the learners, they were diagnosed using a measurement sheet. The learners’ current knowledge statuses were checked, and the correlation between the evaluation results, based on what was taught according to the problem-solving learning technique, was analyzed according to the proposed method. The analysis of the group average score of the learners showed that the learning effect was significant. The results of the measures of the students’ CT at the beginning of the semester were correlated with problem-solving learning, teaching method, lecture satisfaction, and other environmental factors. The ability to solve a variety of problems using CT will become increasingly important, so if students seek to improve their satisfaction with problem-solving learning techniques for computer science education, it will be possible for universities to develop convergence talent more efficiently. Improvements/Applications: if you pursue a problem-solving learning technique and a way to improve students’ satisfaction, it will help students improve their problem-solving skills. If the method of deriving and improving computational thinking ability in this paper is applied to computer education, it will induce student interest, thereby increasing the learning effect.


Author(s):  
Ivans Jānis Mihailovs ◽  
Aira Aija Krūmiņa

The general education program designing and licensing trends in Latvia in the period from 2010 to 2014 are analyzed in the article. Based on the general education program licensing data, it found that there isn’t a trend to license author’s program in primary education, while the secondary level of education author's programs are designed and licensed more often. The fact that primary education is more licensed programs in mathematics, science and technology, but in general secondary education – the humanitarian and social direction of the program suggest a possible gap in primary and secondary education. At the same time it found that a quarter of all licensed educational programs is not implemented, which could be result of socio-economic and political change in society.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Zenal Muh Ramdan ◽  
Liana Veralita ◽  
Euis Eti Rohaeti ◽  
Ratni Purwasih

This study aims to determine the relationship between self confidence on the mathematical problem-solving abilities of students of SMK on the sequence and series material. The method in this research is descriptive qualitative. The place of research conducted at SMK Al-Ibrohimiyah Cianjur academic year 2018/2019 class XII Administration Offices with the number of 17 students. The instruments in this research are self confidence scale questionnaire and math solving ability test. Analysis of data used in this study using SPSS 21.00 with product moment analysis to measure the relationship of self confidence to the ability of problem solving mathematically. Based on the calculation, the result of data analysis shows that there is a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.784 with p = 0,000 (p <0.01) which means there is a significant positive relationship between self confidence on the ability of problem solving mathematically. This means that self confidence covering the aspects that exist in it can be used as a predictor to measure the ability of problem solving mathematically, the higher the self confidence of students, the students have good problem solving skills, otherwise the lower the students' self confidence, the students has a poor problem solving ability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
João ◽  
Nuno ◽  
Fábio ◽  
Ana

In the last few years, it has been pointed out that teaching programming is a strong strategy to develop pupils’ competences in computational thinking (CT). In the Portuguese context, the curriculum changes in 2018 made programming and CT compulsory for every pupil in primary and secondary education. Nowadays, there is an information and communication technology (ICT) subject, taught by a computer science teacher in each school grade. In Portugal, to become a computer science teacher in primary and secondary education, it is compulsory to have a master’s degree in computer science education. This article reports on a pedagogical activity developed with student-teachers of a Master in Teaching Informatics at the University of Lisbon. Within the activities of the master’s program, we developed a cross-analysis of the core characteristics of 26 block-based and visual programming applications (apps) used to teach computational thinking and programming in school classes. In order to organize the analysis, a framework with several dimensions was developed and used by student-teachers to register the characteristics of each app. The product of this work is a comparative matrix mapping the core characteristics of each of the 26 apps that student-teachers used to select the most appropriate one for teaching programming and computational thinking according to each grade, age group and other characteristics.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document