A Methodological Approach to the Teaching STEM Skills in Latin America through Educational Robotics for School Teachers

Sandra Cano

doi:10.3390/electronics11030395

Abstract

The study aims to design a methodological approach that allows educational robotics to develop STEM competences for schoolteachers, but with a gender focus. The phases within consist of designing a set of workshops with a gender approach, making use of Arduino, as it allows for introducing concepts in electronics and programming. For this, a mixed research method was applied, where quantitative and qualitative information was collected. The study was carried out with teachers from Latin American schools, where teachers from Chile and Colombia participated the most, and was conducted in virtual mode through the Zoom platform. As a result, it was found that Arduino and its components can be used to build projects that can be related in a real context, which further motivates students. It was also found that the levels of creativity, attitude, and motivation of the students increased with the workshops that were carried out.

Highlights

Young girls are generally taught to knit while boys are taught to make wooden boats
Margolis et al [2] found that women lost confidence and interest in computer science because they felt they did not fit with the stereotypical view of a computer scientist
Women’s decisions are very much subject to those barriers arising from basic education, because they do not see themselves identified or feel similar enough to those scientists and computer and/or electronic engineers to enter in these fields [3]

Summary

Introduction

Young girls are generally taught to knit while boys are taught to make wooden boats. Children associate various activities with a particular gender. They are activities that a person is expected to perform according to his or her gender [1]. Gender disparities are especially pronounced in areas such as computer sciences and electronics, female sign-up remains low. Educational robotics (ER) is a sub-field of robotics that provides students with learning experiences through the creation and implementation of activities, technology, and artifacts related to robots [27]. Educational robotics began with the Logo project developed by Seymour Papert [28], a mobile robot in the shape of a turtle [29] to teach programming to children [30]. Educational robotics has mainly focused on supporting the teaching of subjects that are closely related to the robotics field such as programming, construction, and mechatronics. A report from the American Association of University Women [32] argues “girls and other nontraditional users of computer science-who are not enamored of technology for technology’s sake-may be far more interested in using technology if they encounter it in the context of a discipline that interest them”

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Conclusion