Educational Robotics in Online Distance Learning: An Experience from Primary School

TL;DR

This paper describes the development and implementation of pen-and-paper-based Educational Robotics activities for primary school students during COVID-19 school closures, utilizing social media to facilitate remote collaboration over four weeks.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to conducting Educational Robotics activities online using simple tools and social media, addressing accessibility and interaction challenges.

Findings

Students engaged with robotics activities remotely for four weeks.

The approach facilitated peer interaction and collaboration.

Activities proved feasible and effective in online primary education.

Abstract

Temporary school closures caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have posed new challenges for many teachers and students worldwide. Especially the abrupt shift to online distance learning posed many obstacles to be overcome and it particularly complicated the implementation of Educational Robotics activities. Such activities usually comprise a variety of different learning artifacts, which were not accessible to many students during the period of school closure. Moreover, online distance learning considerably limits the possibilities for students to interact with their peers and teachers. In an attempt to address these issues, this work presents the development of an Educational Robotics activity particularly conceived for online distance learning in primary school. The devised activities are based on pen and paper approaches that are complemented by commonly used social media to facilitate communication and collaboration. They were proposed to 13 students, as a way to continue ER activities in online distance learning over the time period of four weeks.