Skip to main content

Bringing an Educational Robot into a Basic Education Math Lesson

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Robotics in Education (RiE 2019)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1023))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

The teaching practices of STEAM subjects, especially mathematics, need to be modernized in order to successfully prepare today’s students for the future jobs. Using technology, in particular educational robotics, is considered as one of the ways of meeting this demand. While there are several studies that explore the effects of robot-supported teaching on students’ math learning outcome, these studies do not give us a clear picture of what would be the prerequisites and the outcome if regular math teachers would use robot-supported teaching as a supplementary part of the regular curriculum during a longer period of time. The authors of this paper are currently conducting a multi-stage research on this topic in Estonia. The paper describes the design of the research’s first stage, including the overview of the practical problems of designing lesson plans for robot-supported teaching in regular classrooms and of our experience in solving these problems. Finally, the outlines of the main problem areas and further recommendations are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    The list of the TIMSS countries is available on https://nces.ed.gov/timss/countries.asp.

  2. 2.

    The description of the robots is available on the following link: http://bit.ly/2AvwZpB.

  3. 3.

    The example worksheets are available on the link http://bit.ly/2Q1n9AS.

References

  1. Manyika, J., Lund, S., Chui, M., Bughin, J., Woetzel, J., Batra, P., Ko, R., Sanhvi, S.: Jobs lost, jobs gained: workforce transitions in a time of automation. McKinsey Global Institute (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  2. OECD: Enabling the next production revolution: the future of manufacturing and services – Interim report. OECD Publishing (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Veissière, S.P.L., Stendel, M.: Hypernatural monitoring: a social rehearsal account of smartphone addiction. Front. Psychol. 9, 141 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Anderson, M., Jiang, J.: Teens, social media technology 2018. Pew Research Center (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Matson, E., DeLoach, S., Pauly, R.: Building interest in math and science for rural and underserved elementary school children using robots. J. STEM Educ.: Innov. Res. 5(3/4), 35–46 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dede, C.: Comparing Frameworks for “21st Century Skills”. Harvard Graduate School of Education (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  7. OECD: Strengthening Education for Innovation (Science, Technology and Industry e-Outlook). OECD Publishing (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mullis, I.V.S., Martin, M.O., Loveless, T.: 20 Years of TIMSS: International Trends in Mathematics and Science Achievement, Curriculum, and Instruction. Boston College, Chestnut Hill (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Prensky, M.: Digital natives, digital immigrants part 1. Horizon 9(5), 1–6 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gerretson, H., Howes, E., Campbell, S., Thompson, D.: Interdisciplinary mathematics and science education through robotics technology: its potential for education for sustainable development (a case study from the USA). J. Teach. Educ. Sustain. 10(1), 32–41 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ribeiro, C., Coutinho, C., Costa, M.F.: Educational robotics as a pedagogical tool for approaching problem solving skills in mathematics within elementary education. In: 6th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI 2011), pp. 1–6 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Savard, A., Freiman, V.: Investigating Complexity to Assess Student Learning from a Robotics-Based Task. Digit. Exp. Math. Educ. 2, 93–114 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Acosta, A., Slotta, J.: CKBiology: an active learning curriculum design for secondary biology. Front. Educ. 3, 52 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Samuels, P., Haapasalo, L.: Real and virtual robotics in mathematics education at the school–university transition. Int. J. Math. Educ. 43, 285–301 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Papert, S.: Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas. Basic Books, New York (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lindh, J., Holgersson, T.: Does lego training stimulate pupils’ ability to solve logical problems? Comput. Educ. 49, 1097–1111 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Highfield, K., Mulligan, J., Hedberg, J.: Early mathematics learning through exploration with programmable toys. In: Figueras, O., Cortina, J.L., Alatorre, S., Rojano, T., Sepulveda, A. (eds.) Proceedings of the Joint Meeting of Pme 32 and Pme-Na Xxx, PME Conference Proceedings, vol. 3, pp. 169–176. Cinvestav-UMSNH, Mexico (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Barker, B., Ansorge, J.: Robotics as means to increase achievement scores in an informal learning environment. J. Res. Technol. Educ. 39, 229–243 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kopcha, T.J., McGregor, J., Shin, S., Qian, Y., Choi, J., Hill, R., Mativo, J., Choi, I.: Developing an integrative STEM curriculum for robotics education through educational design research. J. Form. Des. Learn. 1, 31–44 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Werfel, J.: Embodied teachable agents: learning by teaching robots. In: Conference Proceedings (2014). http://people.seas.harvard.edu/~jkwerfel/nrfias14.pdf. Accessed 08 Nov 2018

  21. Leoste, J., Heidmets, M.: The impact of educational robots as learning tools on mathematics learning outcomes in basic education. In: Digital Turn in Schools - Research, Policy, Practice, Conference Proceedings. Manuscript submitted for publication (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Iturrizaga, I.M.: Study of educational impact of the LEGO Dacta materials – InfoEscuela - MED. Final Report, Infoescuela (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hussain, S., Lindh, J., Shukur, G.: The effect of LEGO training on pupils’ school performance in mathematics, problem solving ability and attitude: Swedish data. Educ. Technol. Soc. 9(3), 182–194 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Shamsuddin, S., Yussof, H., Hanapiah, F.A., Mohamed, S., Jamil, N.F.F., Yunus, F.W.: Robot-assisted learning for communication-care in autism intervention. In: 2015 IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), Singapore, pp. 822–827 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Hemminki, J., Erkinheimo-Kyllonen, A.: A humanoid robot as a language tutor - a case study from Helsinki skills center. In: Proceedings of R4L HRI2017, Wien, Austria (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Smith, C.: Artificial intelligence that can teach? It’s already happening. ABC Science (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kennedy, J., Baxter, P., Belpaeme, T.: Comparing robot embodiments in a guided discovery learning interaction with children. Int. J. of Soc. Robot. 7, 293–308 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. UNESCO: International Standard Classification of Education ISCED 2011. UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Statistics Estonia: Mõisted ja metoodika (2018). http://pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/Database/RAHVASTIK/01RAHVASTIKUNAITAJAD_JA_KOOSSEIS/04RAHVAARV_JA_RAHVASTIKU_KOOSSEIS/RV_0231.htm. Accessed 15 Mar 2019

  30. Leppik, C., Haaristo, H.S., Mägi, E.: IKT-haridus: digioskuste õpetamine, hoiakud ja võimalused üldhariduskoolis ja lasteaias. Poliitikauuringute Keskus Praxis (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  31. HITSA: ProgeTiiger programmis toetuse saanud haridusasutused 2014–2018 (2018). https://www.hitsa.ee/ikt-haridus/progetiiger. Accessed 08 Nov 2018

  32. Leoste, J., Heidmets, M.: Õpperobot matemaatikatunnis. Estonian Research Council (2019). http://www.miks.ee/opetajale/uudised/opperobot-matemaatikatunnis. Accessed 15 Mar 2019

  33. Aypay, A., Çelik, H.C., Sever, M.: Technology acceptance in education: a study of pre-service teachers in Turkey. Turk. Online J. Educ. Technol. 11, 264–272 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Miller, M.D., Rainer, R.K., Corley, J.K.: Predictors of engagement and participation in an on-line course. Online J. Distance Learn. Adm. 6, 1–13 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Davis, F.D., Bagozzi, R.P., Warshaw, P.R.: User acceptance of computer technology: a comparison of two theoretical models. Manag. Sci. 35(8), 982–1003 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ley, T., Leoste, J., Poom-Valickis, K., Rodríguez-Triana, M.J., Gillet, D., Väljataga, T.: CEUR Workshop Proceedings (2018). http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2190/CC-TEL_2018_paper_1.pdf. Accessed 08 Nov 2018

  37. Ley, T., Maier, R., Waizenegger, L., Manhart, M., Pata, K., Treasure-Jones, T., Sargianni, C., Thalmann, S.: Knowledge appropriation in informal workplace learning (2017). http://results.learning-layers.eu/scenarios/knowledge-appropriation/. Accessed 08 Nov 2018

  38. Korthagen, F.: The gap between research and practice revisited. Educ. Res. Eval. 13(3), 303–310 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Coburn, C.E., Penuel, W.R.: Research-practice partnerships in education: outcomes, dynamics, and open questions. Educ. Res. 45(1), 48–54 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 669074.

We are grateful to all of the students and teachers participating in the research

figure a

.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janika Leoste .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Leoste, J., Heidmets, M. (2020). Bringing an Educational Robot into a Basic Education Math Lesson. In: Merdan, M., Lepuschitz, W., Koppensteiner, G., Balogh, R., Obdržálek, D. (eds) Robotics in Education. RiE 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1023. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26945-6_21

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics