Building ArtBots to Attract Students into STEM Learning

TL;DR

This paper presents an art-integrated robotics educational activity aimed at increasing STEM engagement among underrepresented students, demonstrating how art can make STEM learning more appealing and inclusive.

Contribution

It introduces a manual for organizing art-based robotics activities that foster inquiry learning and inclusivity in STEM education for diverse student groups.

Findings

Enhanced student engagement in STEM through art integration

Successful inclusion of underrepresented students in robotics activities

Students became science and technology ambassadors

Abstract

There is an increasing worldwide demand for people educated into science and technology. Unfortunately, girls and underprivileged students are often underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programs. We believe that by inclusion of art in these programs, educational activities might become more attractive to a broader audience. In this work we present an example of such an educational activity: an international robotics and art week for secondary school students. This educational activity builds up on the project-based and inquiry learning framework. This article is intended as a brief manual to help others organise such an activity. It also gives insights in how we led a highly heterogeneous group of students into learning STEM and becoming science and technology ambassadors for their peers.