Robots & NEE: Learning by playing with robots in an inclusive school setting

Abstract

In this paper the authors summarize a set of tasks devised as part of a doctoral thesis for two teachers training workshops involving eleven teachers in a distance e-learning approach. Data were collected by teachers enrolled in the workshops, in Portuguese and Brazilian schools with access to educational robotics sets while working with pupils with special educational needs. The project benefitted a total of 26 students with six different special educational needs who have been asked to assemble, programme and interact with a prototype of Lego® Mindstorms® robotics. The collected data helped confirm that educational robotics promotes learning and social inclusion through playing and project learning.