Exploring Factors That Influence Computational Thinking Skills in Elementary Students’ Collaborative Robotics

Recently educational robotics has expanded into curriculum beyond traditional STEM fields, and which can also be used to foster computational thinking (CT) skills. Prior research has shown numerous interdisciplinary benefits related to CT, however, these influential factors have often been investigated with relatively few variables. This study investigated factors that may lead to 4th and 5th grade elementary school students’ development of computational thinking skills in collaborative robotics activities by hypothesizing a model which proposed that a problem solving inventory, intrinsic motivation, and enjoyment were the main predictors of computational thinking skills. The model was then tested by surveying students with several psychometric inventories where a revised model was then constructed. The study found significant relationships between perceived competence and enjoyment, and learning motivation, and intrinsic motivation. Another important finding was that problem solving was a significant predictor of computational thinking skills. Results were interpreted with reference to implications for possible means of improving learning outcomes when using collaborative robotics in an educational setting

Autonomous Robotics Math Curriculum Development Using C Coding Language to Increase Student Attitudes and Learner Outcomes

Abstract: Educational robotics is increasingly becoming incorporated into K12 instructional curriculum. The addition of autonomous robotics into mathematics lessons increases student engagement and attitudes towards robotics and STEM. This mixed methods study provides educators with an autonomous robotics curriculum, developed in C coding language, to increase learner attitude outcomes towards robotics and STEM. According to research from Vollstedt et al. (2007) as society progresses, students need to increase their knowledge of science, mathematics, engineering, and technology (STEM) to compete with the rest of the world and to efficiently utilize the new technologies that are introduced. This study was conducted at a STEM school in a small suburb of Boise, Idaho. Thirty-two fifth grade students participated in the study incorporating qualitative observations and quantitative surveys. The study concluded that coding using C coding language is one way of increasing attitudes towards robotics and STEM. Future curriculum development and research using autonomous robotics is needed to provide educators with tools to increase learner attitude outcomes towards robotics and STEM