Robotics-Enhanced Natural Science in Primary Schools

Abstract

AbstractThe challenges of the 21st century and the modern age require people to have knowledge of the natural sciences and information technology [1, 2]. Ideally, these two disciplines should be combined in everyday life inside classrooms. However, this is often not the case, and students often only have access to such activities outside the classroom (e.g.: in workshops). As part of my research, I develop good practices that allow us to integrate projects from computer science (digital culture) classes into the natural science classes.In my article I would like to present the first experiences of the practical implementation of my doctoral research, in which I am implementing natural science lessons with 5th grade children, where robotics is used as an illustrative, and modelling tool for different topics. This method has provided an opportunity to link information technology (IT) and natural science in primary schools, and to allow interoperability between the subjects in the framework of different projects.My class of 22 students and I are using robotics as a visual aid in several places per topic. The specificity of my model is that students make these teaching tools themselves during IT lessons. In the process, children also acquire a basic knowledge of programming. The projects are carried out in groups, which allows them to develop several soft skills during these IT lessons, this adaptability and development are also very important skills in this day and age [3]. The natural science lessons are also carried out in a manner that provides new and exciting exemplification for all students, which is designed to increase and maintain motivation. In this article I would like to describe the themes of the lessons and the tools used. I will then describe children’s results and their views on this way of learning, analysed through questionnaires and interviews.KeywordsSTEMRoboticsNatural science