The effects of LEGO Mindstorms on indigenous students' creativity in Taiwan — A case study of an Energy and Robotics Course

Abstract

The study is to understand the effects of using LEGO Mindstorms NXT in an Energy and Robotics Course on indigenous Taiwanese students' creativity. Fifty-five indigenous Taiwanese students (24 third and 31 fourth grade students from Tayal Tribe) participated in this research. The course took four months. The students were tested through "Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking" and asked to draw pictures in order to evaluate five mental characteristics (fluency, originality, elaboration, abstractness of titles, and resistance to closure) and creative strengths. The major findings were: 1. The scores of fluency, originality, elaboration and creative strengths increased. However, the scores of abstractness of titles and resistance to closure decreased. 2. The score of creative strengths was significantly improved. Generally speaking, this course reinforced students' creativity.