Implementing a Robotics Curriculum in an Early Childhood Montessori Classroom

This paper explores how robotics can be used as a new educational tool in a Montessori early education classroom. It presents a case study of one early educator’s experience of designing and implementing a robotics curriculum integrated with a social science unit in her mixed-age classroom. This teacher had no prior experience using robotics in the classroom beyond a three-day professional development workshop. The case study was constructed by collecting data from surveys, interviews, and a personal blog written by the teacher documenting her experience. The outcome of this research project is a set of suggested criteria for effectively integrating foundational programming and engineering concepts into Montessori early education, based on the inclusion of Montessori tangibles, the need for teacher confidence, and the encouragement of student collaboration.

[1]  Judy Radich.  Technology and interactive media as tools in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8 , 2013 .

[2]  Marina Umaschi Bers,et al.  Computational thinking and tinkering: Exploration of an early childhood robotics curriculum , 2014, Comput. Educ..

[3]  M. Bers,et al.  Ready for Robotics: Bringing Together the T and E of STEM in Early Childhood Teacher Education. , 2013 .

[4]  L. Schweinhart,et al.  Preschool experience in 10 countries: Cognitive and language performance at age 7 , 2006 .

[5]  R. Burke,et al.  Women and minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics : upping the numbers , 2007 .

[6]  C. Steele.  A threat in the air. How stereotypes shape intellectual identity and performance. , 1997, The American psychologist.

[7]  Chris Rogers,et al.  Kindergarten Robotics: Using Robotics to Motivate Math, Science, and Engineering Literacy in Elementary School* , 2006 .

[8]  K. Kawakami,et al.  Women and Minorities in Science , Technology , Engineering and Mathematics Upping the Numbers , 2007 .

[9]  Marina Umaschi Bers.  Beyond computer literacy: supporting youth's positive development through technology. , 2010, New directions for youth development.

[10]  Marina Umaschi Bers,et al.  Teachers as Designers: Integrating Robotics in Early Childhood Education. , 2002 .

[11]  L. Markert,et al.  Gender Related to Success in Science and Technology. , 1996 .

[12]  Marina Umaschi Bers,et al.  Collaboration by Design: Using Robotics to Foster Social Interaction in Kindergarten , 2013 .

[13]  L. Witmer.  The Montessori Method , 1914, The Psychological clinic.

[14]  Joyce Malyn-Smith,et al.  Computational thinking for youth in practice , 2011, INROADS.

[15]  Michael P. Kaschak,et al.  Activity and Imagined Activity Can Enhance Young Children's Reading Comprehension. , 2004 .

[16]  M. Bers.  Blocks to Robots: Learning with Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom , 2008 .

[17]  Marina Umaschi Bers,et al.  Tangible programming in early childhood: Revisiting developmental assumptions through new technologies: Childhood in a digital world , 2009 .

[18]  Marina Umaschi Bers,et al.  Programming in a Robotics Context in the Kindergarten Classroom: The Impact on Sequencing Skills , 2012 .

[19]  Chris Stephenson,et al.  Bringing computational thinking to K-12: what is Involved and what is the role of the computer science education community? , 2011, INROADS.

[20]  Jeannette M. Wing.  An introduction to computer science for non-majors using principles of computation , 2007, SIGCSE.

[21]  Florence R. Sullivan,et al.  Robotics and Discovery Learning: Pedagogical Beliefs, Teacher Practice, and Technology Integration , 2009 .

[22]  Amanda Sullivan,et al.  The Wheels on the Bot go Round and Round: Robotics Curriculum in Pre-Kindergarten , 2013, J. Inf. Technol. Educ. Innov. Pract..

[23]  A. Lillard,et al.  Playful Learning and Montessori Education. , 2013 .

[24]  Arthur J. Reynolds,et al.  School-Based Early Childhood Education and Age-28 Well-Being: Effects by Timing, Dosage, and Subgroups , 2011, Science.

[25]  Mitchel Resnick,et al.  Digital manipulatives: new toys to think with , 1998, CHI.

[26]  Lorna McKnight,et al.  Designing digital experiences for positive youth development: from playpen to playground , 2013 .

[27]  Albert A. Einsiedel,et al.  Developing Career Commitment in STEM-related Fields: Myths versus Reality , 2007 .

[28]  J. Steven Reznick,et al.  Early Development of Executive Function: A Problem-Solving Framework , 1997 .

[29]  Radia Perlman,et al.  Using Computer Technology to Provide a Creative Learning Environment for Preschool Children. AI Memo 360. , 1976 .

[30]  Rochel Gelman,et al.  Science learning pathways for young children , 2004 .

[31]  Matthew J. Koehler,et al.  Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) , 2009 .

[32]  Elizabeth R. Kazakoff,et al.  The Effect of a Classroom-Based Intensive Robotics and Programming Workshop on Sequencing Ability in Early Childhood , 2013 .

[33]  Secondary Education. Office for Career.  Massachusetts science and technology/engineering curriculum framework , 2006 .

[34]  M. Peters,et al.  Transforming American Education: Learning Powered by Technology , 2011 .