Robotics has established itself in the educational field as an interdisciplinary tool that serves as a pretext for development skills in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, abbreviation in English), is also key to the development of language and creative skills. Therefore, this approach not only encourages students’ logical thinking, but also stimulates their imagination and allows children and young people to solve the problems of everyday life from multiple points of view and more effectively.
O, Martin Salasprogramming and robotics coordinator Tikmasnotes that “The most important thing about educational robotics is not the robot itself, but the background and spirit of what it is trying to achieve through it.“. This statement emphasizes robotics as a means of immersing students in programming and developing computational thinking, which are some of the essential skills to meet the challenges of today’s world and greatly enhance learning in science and technology fields.
In this regard, Salas adds that in early childhood and elementary education, robotics kits provide students with the necessary tools to build and program simple robots, with their learning based on practice rather than theory. The robotics coordinator in the Ticmas learning experience explains that “Educational robots make it possible to create constructions that can later be used to solve problems in real-world contexts. For example, a robot that measures soil moisture and builds an automated irrigation system.”
Salas points out that educational robotics almost natively enables work with interdisciplinary projects that seek to support and learning that is not limited to the classroom but applies to knowledge from different areas.
“This is achieved by connecting school projects with everyday life situations, promoting knowledge that is not compartmentalized but rather tries to integrate different areas of knowledge.” In this way, educational robotics not only teaches programming and computational thinking, but also addresses topics such as the environment, the Sustainable Development Goals and the properties of materials, achieving more meaningful learning.
The educational experience Ticmas has designed an educational path that extends from the first years of school life to lower secondary school. In this context, Salas emphasized: “We start with an introduction to computer thinking and programming for four- and five-year-old children using concrete materials and educational games. In elementary school, we then deepen these concepts using tools like Scratch and devices like Makey Makey tablets and Coopers robots.”
Salas states that “access manufacturer is another important element that supports “learning by doing” through projects that include practical constructions and solutions. “We work with electrical circuits, motors and other elements that allow children to build and understand how devices work before programming them.” This approach not only helps students understand technical concepts, but also teaches them to solve problems in a structured way.
Robotic kits are not only an educational tool, but also an excuse integrate different areas of knowledge and promote meaningful learning applicable to everyday life. “From age four or five to age 14 or 15, our design covers all elementary and junior high schools and gives students a solid foundation to continue with more complex programming languages at later stages,” Salas said.
“The kits we use contain elements for projects Manufacturer, such as propellers, motors, battery holders, cables and LED lights. We also have platelets Makey Makey, which can be programmed using Scratch, and Coopers robots with different sensors to perform more complex tasks. These kits make it possible to implement projects from building a fan to automating a garden,” explains Salas. “The idea is that these devices serve as a common thread for developing computational thinking and problem solving.“.
Therefore, educational robotics not only teaches technical skills, but also promotes critical thinking.creativity and the ability to integrate knowledge from different fields, preparing students to face the challenges of the modern world with an agile and versatile mind.
