Developing Creativity via LEGO and AI Robotics

Abstract

The chapter reports on a longitudinal study, which investigated the impacts of robotics programs on developing creativity among elementary school students. A mixed method of pre-post CAP test and observations was used for the purpose of this study, which was carried out over 2 years. A sample of 60, 10–12 year-old female students from middle socio-economic status participated in the study. They were randomly assigned into two treatment and control groups. In the first year of the study a LEGO robotics program was administered to the treatment group while 30 participants in the control group did not receive any robotics program. In the second year, an Arduino robotics program using AI was administered to the students in the treatment group while the students in the control group did not receive any robotics intervention. The results from pre-post tests indicated that the LEGO robotics intervention was significantly effective in developing creative thinking skills of fluency, flexibility and elaboration while had no significant impact upon developing originality. However, robotics programs using AI had significant impact upon developing all creativity thinking skills of fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration. The chapter suggests implications for policymakers and educators while provides recommendations for future researchers in the field.