Title :
Educational Robotics as a pedagogical tool for approaching problem solving skills in Mathematics within elementary education
Author :
Ribeiro, Célia ; Coutinho, Clara ; Costa, Manuel F.
Author_Institution :
CIED-Inst. de Educ., Univ. do Minho, Braga, Portugal
Abstract :
Over the last few years, Educational Robotics (ER) has been pointed as a rising educational tool with a greatest potential. Among all its attributes, what stands out is its adaptation to the problem based learning approach, where the emerging challenges promote active reasoning and critical thinking, also enhancing students´ interest and motivation to address often complex subjects. These features make ER especially useful for teaching/learning Mathematics and Natural Sciences. In this work, a set of ER sessions is made available, which may be used to address problem solving themes related to multiplication and division operations, for elementary 4th grade students. These tools will enable teachers to address these subjects in an alternative manner as compared to conventional teaching. The resources provided in this paper can be framed within a wider context of an ER portal, where one may find other materials suitable for implementation in elementary schools.
Keywords :
computer aided instruction; educational aids; mathematics computing; natural sciences computing; problem solving; robots; teaching; ER portal; active reasoning; conventional teaching; critical thinking; division operations; educational robotics; educational tool; elementary 4th grade students; elementary education; elementary schools; mathematics; multiplication operations; natural sciences; pedagogical tool; problem based learning approach; problem solving skills; problem solving themes; students interest; Education; Erbium; Robots; Visualization; Educational Robotics; Elementary Education; Mathematics Learning/Teaching; Problem Solving;
Conference_Titel :
Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI), 2011 6th Iberian Conference on
Conference_Location :
Chaves
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4577-1487-0