On Learning Ecology in Elementary Grades by Designing Robotic Animals and Their Habitats

• In Event: Poster Session 18
  In Poster Session: Gestures, Models, and Explanations in STEM Learning

Abstract

Research has shown that students of all ages find learning about complex systems challenging (Hmelo-Silver & Azevado, 2006, Jacobson & Wilensky, 2006). In the domain of ecology, students often struggle to synthesize the related ideas which leads to significant challenges for learning (Catley, Lehrer, Reiser, 2005).
In this design-based research study (Cobb et al., 2000) we present a novel educational robotics-based learning environment where elementary grade students used LEGO MindstormsTM to learn about ecology by engaging in iterative design-based learning activities (Papert, 1980; Kolodner et al., 2003; Kafai & Ching, 2007).

Authors

• Gokul Krishnan, Vanderbilt University

• Pratim Sengupta, Vanderbilt University

• Amanda Catherine Dickes, Vanderbilt University

• Amy Voss Farris, Vanderbilt University