Effects of Robotics Education on Young Children's Computing Thinking Skills: A Pilot Study

• In Event: STEM Instruction and Interventions Across Contexts

Abstract

The emerging field of robotics education (RE) is a new and rapidly growing subject area in many countries. It may provide a playful and new learning model for students to engage with all aspects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The proposed study aims to provide insight into what young children aged 5-8 can gain from learning robotics. The results of cognitive assessments showed that children’s visuospatial working memory and abstract reasoning increased over time. Additionally, the eye-tracking data suggested that children become more focused on RE activities and got faster to process the information across 6 months in general. Our findings can help educators and policymakers better understand the benefits of RE for young children.

Authors

• Yan Liu, Carleton University
  Presenting Author

• Darko Odic
  Non-Presenting Author

• Xuyan Tang, University of British Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Andy Ma, University of British Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Maria Laricheva, University of British Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Guanyu Chen, The University of British Columbia
  Presenting Author

• Sirui Wu, University of British Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Man Niu, University of British Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Yue Guo, University of British Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author

• Marina Milner-Bolotin, University of British Columbia
  Non-Presenting Author