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About

Mordechai Ben-Ari is a prominent computer science education researcher whose work sits at the intersection of robotics, computational thinking, and STEM pedagogy. Best known for his extensive contributions to educational robotics, Ben-Ari has systematically explored how robotic platforms can serve as powerful tools for teaching foundational computer science concepts to learners ranging from elementary school children to middle-school competitors. His highly cited textbook chapters on robots and their applications, finite state machines, robotic motion and odometry, and swarm robotics demonstrate both the breadth and technical rigor of his scholarship, collectively accumulating hundreds of citations and establishing him as a key reference in the field. Beyond theoretical frameworks, Ben-Ari has conducted empirical investigations into student attitudes, motivation, and learning outcomes within robotics contexts, including studies tied to the FIRST® LEGO® League competition. This research reveals his commitment to understanding not just what students learn through robotics, but how engagement and affect shape that learning. His work directly addresses practical questions educators face — whether robotics competitions measurably improve CS learning and whether the investment in such activities is genuinely worthwhile. With over 370 citations across his most prominent works, Ben-Ari's research continues to inform curriculum design and educational policy in computing and STEM education worldwide.