Using robotics in education : lessons learned and learning experiences

Abstract

This paper investigates the use of robotics as a vehicle for guiding secondary school students toward an effective understanding of programming and engineering principles. The students built their robots using RCX LEGO MindStorms for a competition in the Robot Transporter Event. The paper describes the lessons learned in terms of designing the robots and learning that has emerged from the students’ experiences in building and programming robots. It observes some considerations contributing to an efficient design of the robots and how students find robotics as interesting, fun, “cool�, stimulating and motivating. These conclusions arise from the observations and interviews conducted with six participating students.