Robotics education methodology for K-12 students for enhancing skill sets prior to entering university

Abstract

Due to a visible gap in K-12 education that doesn't address the importance of imparting technology literacy, project-based learning and transdisciplinary educational activities, there is a deficiency of skill sets harnessed by university students. This study is being initiated as part of an ongoing research to find out the potent educational reforms needed in K-12 years for enhancing skill sets needed by the 21 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">st</sup> century students prior to their enrollment in universities. Through this study, an open source educational robot — ProBot — and a software — EDVON — have been developed, and a proposed robotics education methodology was implemented in 17 schools, that has shown positive results in K-12 students' learning and performance. The students were ultimately able to build their own robotics projects from scratch — those that are usually developed at undergraduate level.