Entorno pedagógico para la enseñanza en básica primaria mediante el uso de sistema robótico comercial

Context: In this paper, the design of a robotic system applied to learning in primary school is presented. This system is controlled through a mobile application, where two teams competing against each other answer questions about a subject. The robot moves along a racetrack whenever a team answers correctly. The system is designed for easy operation without advanced knowledge in robotics or informatics. Method: First, the results from Colombia’s Pisa tests were consulted, finding that primary school shows a significant weakness in mathematics. Afterwards, a robotic educational platform was designed using a LEGO MINDSTORM robot and a mobile phone app. The education environment was validated by means of perception surveys at the end of an academic activity with 40 students between third and fifth grade. Results: The surveys reported an overall interest and satisfaction from the students with the academic activity and the proposed system. The children were very disciplined in the class with the robot. The activity was supported by the mathematics teacher, who believes that the class yielded positive results, thus contributing to the students’ academic development. Conclusions: The use of robotic platforms contributes to the learning process of children. This is because these activities are appealing and interactive. These kinds of systems are designed to develop teamwork. One important characteristic of these environments must be easy usage since they are conducted by teachers without knowledge in robotics or informatics. These platforms must be more accessible and low-cost, but their design must still be attractive. Acknowledgements: This work was funded by “Decimocuarta convocatoria interna para el formento de la investigación y la innovación FODEIN 2020” at Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia, entlited “Optimización de trayectorias mediante algoritmos bio-inspirados aplicado a robots móviles con percepción local” (project code 2036004).Contexto: En este artículo se presenta el diseño de un sistema robótico aplicado para la enseñanza en básica primaria, dirigido a la población infantil. El sistema robótico es controlado mediante una aplicación en un teléfono celular, a partir del cual dos equipos de niños compiten moviendo un robot en una pista cuando responden correctamente una pregunta. El sistema está diseñado para ser operado por personas sin conocimientos avanzados en informática o robótica. Método: Inicialmente se realizó una revisión de los resultados de las pruebas Pisa para Colombia, donde se evidenció que en educación básica primaria existen fuertes deficiencias en matemáticas. Posteriormente se procede al diseño del sistema utilizando la plataforma robótica Lego Mindstorm y una aplicación para teléfono celular. El sistema es validado en una actividad con 40 niños de grados tercero y quinto, validando la actividad por medio de encuestas. Resultados: Las encuestas reflejaron una satisfacción general de los estudiantes al realizar la actividad, mostrando mucho interés, así como concentración. Se evidenció disciplina de los niños en la actividad. La actividad fue acompañada por el docente del espacio académico, quien consideró que el ejercicio realizado fue positivo y contribuye al desarrollo académico de los estudiantes. Conclusiones: El uso de plataformas robóticas contribuye a los procesos de aprendizaje en la población infantil al ser atractivas, interactivas y fortalecer el trabajo en equipo. Este tipo de plataformas deben ser de fácil uso, ya que las actividades serían acompañadas por docentes de distintas formaciones. Se debe buscar que las plataformas sean accesibles y de bajo costo, pero con un diseño llamativo para la población a la que va dirigida. Agradecimientos: Este proyecto ha sido financiado por la “Decimocuarta convocatoria interna para el fomento de la investigación y la innovación FODEIN 2020” de la Universidad Santo Tomás, Bogotá D.C., Colombia, titulado “Optimización de trayectorias mediante algoritmos bio-inspirados aplicado a robots móviles con percepción local”, código de proyecto: 2036004

Robots for inclusive classrooms: a scoping review

Robot-based activities have been proven to be a valuable tool for children with learning and developmental disabilities. However, their feasibility in general educational environments needs further exploration. This scoping review provides a critical examination of robot-based learning experiences involving children with disabilities, implemented either in mainstream schools or in specialized centers in order to gain insight into their potential to support inclusion. For this purpose, a search was conducted in the multidisciplinary Scopus and WoS databases, completed with Dialnet database. Based on PRISMA guidelines for literature reviews, we limited the systematic analysis to 33 papers published after 2009 that contain information on the instructional design and details of how the activities were implemented. On the other hand, studies reporting interventions with robots for clinical purposes were excluded as well as papers focused exclusively on technical developments. Content analysis shows that most experiences lead to improvements in terms of educational goals and/or stakeholders’ satisfaction. However, the analysis also reported issues that may hinder the adoption of these practices in general classrooms and integrated education services. The reported difficulties include the lack of stability and autonomy of the robots used, the need for aids and adaptations to enable children with sensory and physical impairments to interact easily with the robots, and the requirement of technical support with system’s setup, implementation and maintenance. We conclude that robots and robotics are a powerful tool to address the needs of diverse learners who are included in mainstream classrooms. This review aims at presenting evidences of good practices and recommendations for successful implementation.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Futuristic Smart Solutions for People of Determination in Schools and Universities

In this project, future smart solutions for people of determination in schools and universities were discussed. The background was presented on the topic, as the issue of integrating people of determination in schools and then integrating them into society still takes a wide range of societal, family, and institutional attention, and it undoubtedly deserves much attention that befits this dear group in our society. The literature has shown the existence of previous studies and applications similar to those proposed in the project, which sought within the framework of this advanced vision to enable people of determination to provide quality services that meet their healthcare and rehabilitation requirements, and to provide an educational and educational system that ensures their full integration into society, and ensures their access to the same opportunities of education as their peers in various educational institutions, qualifying them to obtain employment opportunities appropriate to their potential (Augusto, Kramer, Alegre, Covaci, & Santokhee, 2018). The methods related for gathering information and data collection for this study will include a three-step approach wherein the first step is to design a set of structured open-ended questions that are answered from previous experience, knowledge gathered during field visits to schools and universities that the researchers (we) undertook of during the graduation years. The second step involves situation analyses of the general map of a public school in UAE followed by a design of a new map that contains the layout of a smart center for people of determination and is to be placed within the school premises along with a budget plan for the new ICT lab specifically for the people of determination. Then the third step is the analysis of data using SPSS. The result of this project will show the level of awareness of the UAE educational institutions and its staff in using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the gap that exists in the UAE education process in the information technology context. It will represent the real situation that the people of determination live in their academic life, this attempt to enhance it. The importance of ICT lies in its ability to open a wide range of services, transform existing services, and create greater demand for access to information and knowledge, particularly in underserved and excluded populations, such as persons with disabilities. The ICT opportunity for persons with disabilities can be better assessed by analyzing how each type of access technology contributes to the different dimensions involved in the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities (Lawrence,2004). The main benefit that this project would generate is to increase the teachers’ and principals’ awareness of the new technologies, devices. Such as e-Braille, smart elevators programmed with face ID, and virtual assistants (Blindness students). Robots to enhance communication for people with autism. The application between the guardian of the people of determination and the teacher to follow up everything related to behavior, degree, and development. A smart wheelchair that contains emergency buttons connected to the nurse and administration. Methods that can be used in the educational process will direct the people of determination and the normal students as well. These questions provide several suggestions to be used in the educational institution. Without conducting this project, the educational institutions, principals, and teachers will not know the state of the art in modern methods and tools that can be indulged in used to enhance its education system remains lagging behind the other countries if they don’t think of improving their systems using these suggestions and ideas that we generated from our literature review