Robots, GPS/GIS, and programming technologies: The power of "digital manipulatives" in youth Extension experiences

The study reported here examined the effectiveness of educational robotics combined with GPS/GIS technologies used as "digital manipulatives" in the teaching of concepts in science, engineering, and technology. Based on the success of previous summer camps, the study also examined a scaling-up of the intervention from 38 participants to 147. The 147 youth (ages 10-15) participated in one of six summer camps held in Nebraska during 2008. Results indicate that participants scored higher on the content posttest than the pretest. The study further examined the differential results. The article makes recommendations for further studies, while acknowledging the potential power of digital manipulatives. Robots, GPS/GIS, and Programming Technologies: The Power of "Digital Manipulatives" in Youth Extension Experien 03/29/10 09:03:38

[1]  Barry S. Fagin,et al.  Measuring the effectiveness of robots in teaching computer science , 2003, SIGCSE.

[2]  Mitchel Resnick,et al.  Technologies for lifelong kindergarten , 1998 .

[3]  Edwin W. Schreiber.  The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics , 1936 .

[4]  Bradley Barker,et al.  Examining 4-H Robotics in the Learning of Science, Engineering and Technology Topics and the Related Student Attitudes , 2008 .

[5]  Mike Carbonaro,et al.  Designing, Developing, and Implementing a Course on LEGO Robotics for Technology Teacher Education , 2003 .

[6]  Bradley Barker,et al.  Examining 4-H Robotics and Geospatial Technologies in the Learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Topics , 2008 .

[7]  Illah R. Nourbakhsh,et al.  Formal measures of learning in a secondary school mobile robotics course , 2004, IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, 2004. Proceedings. ICRA '04. 2004.

[8]  K. H. Stauder,et al.  Psychology of the Child , 1959 .

[9]  Kc Stacey,et al.  Teaching Strategies for Developing Judicious Technology Use , 2005 .

[10]  Bradley Barker,et al.  Using robotics as an educational tool in 4-H , 2006 .

[11]  Bradley S. Barker,et al.  Robotics as Means to Increase Achievement Scores in an Informal Learning Environment , 2007 .

[12]  Howard Riggs.  Technology-Supported Mathematics Learning Environments: Sixty-seventh Yearbook of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics , 2006 .

[13]  Nathalie Sinclair,et al.  Learning Mathematics in Dynamic Computer Environments. , 2006 .