Research Article
Nagla Ali, Ieda M. Santos, Rehab AlHakmani, Othman Abu Khurma, Myint Swe Khine, Usama Kassem
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 15, Issue 4, Article No: ep469
ABSTRACT
It is becoming increasingly vital for the next generation of students to acquire problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborative skills for them to be successful in the 21st century. The use of technology greatly bolsters the integration of these skills. Robotics, one of the many emerging arrays of technologies, presents learners with challenges and opportunities for developing innovative ideas, critical thinking, and higher-order thinking skills. As a result, the Ministry of Education in Dubai realized these potentials and took an essential step in the form of the distribution of Lego Mindstorms Education kits to schools with the goal of encouraging teachers to use these kits in their classrooms. This research study aimed to investigate teachers’ perceptions of a training on Lego Mindstorms in terms of content, methodology, activities, and recommendations. In addition, the study investigated how teachers perceived Lego Mindstorms based on TAM model. A total of 59 high school (cycle 2) teachers participated in the current study. The data from the teachers were collected using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data analysis consists of descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Teachers showed positive perceptions of robotics integration, emphasizing its potential to enhance teaching and learning. Their willingness to learn and adapt, combined with their recommendations for enhanced training methods, highlights the importance of continuous professional development for effective robotics integration. Teachers expressed the need for more practical training, hands-on activities, and a balance between theoretical and practical aspects. A positive correlation between perceived learning usefulness, perceived teaching usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitudes, and teachers’ intention to use Lego Mindstorms in their future teaching was found.
Keywords: robotics, TAM model, teaching usefulness, learning usefulness, behavioral intentions
Research Article
Hatice Yildiz Durak, Fatma Gizem Karaoglan Yilmaz, Ramazan Yilmaz
CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 10, Issue 2, pp. 173-197
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine the skill levels of secondary school students regarding computational thinking, programming self-efficacy and reflective thinking aimed at problem solving and examine their experiences in the programming training process on robotic activities. Toward this purpose, a 10-week application was conducted with 55 students from 6th and 7th grades who received education at a secondary school in Western Black Sea region of Turkey during the school year of 2017-2018. The study was conducted using the mixed model and various scales in the quantitative dimension. On the other hand, a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers was applied in the qualitative dimension. As a result, it was found out that students’ computational thinking skills, programming self-efficacy and reflective thinking aimed at problem solving were moderate. Students’ levels of computational thinking and programming self-efficacy were observed to differ depending on their grade levels. In addition, a positive and moderate relationship was found among the levels of computational thinking, programming self-efficacy and reflective thinking aimed at problem solving.
Keywords: Robotics, Computational thinking, Programming self-efficacy, Reflective thinking, Programming