Why should you use Robotics in the classroom?
Introducing robotics in the classroom is a wonderful idea! It allows students to have fun and think outside the box all while they are learning and meeting key outcomes. The integration of robotics throughout the classroom allows students to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens (ACARA, 2009). It can improve communication, collaboration, problem-solving, teamwork, metacognition and creative thinking. Robotics projects also challenge students to think about different possible solutions, develop their solutions, and articulate their understanding and reasoning (Chalmers et al., 2012). In allowing students to navigate their own learning path, students will have personalised learning and will be able to learn at their own speed and focus on key aspects and tasks that they are interested in.
The video above briefly explains the robots Dash and Dot and how they can be implemented in everyday situations in teaching students how to code. Important pedagogical strategies that should be included in the classroom is not overloading students with too many different interfaces, use of questioning techniques, personalised interaction, relying on engaging tasks rather than novelty (Jung & Won, 2018). Making sure students are learning at their own pace and interacting with students will engage them and lead to scaffolding and building key relationships.
Integration of technology in the classroom
Dash and Dot is a hands-on learning tool created for students mainly in year kindergarten to year 5. It is targeted to teach creative problem solving and computational thinking relevant for all 21st century skills. The robot Dash mainly encourages students into computational thinking focus and allows students to use different types of apps to navigate and move around the robot. The use of digital systems, information and computational thinking promotes students to create solutions for identified needs and opportunities. Once there is an evident interest in robotics, schools could enter robotics competitions where they could verse other students from other schools which encourages interactions.
Issues that may arise when integrating robotics
Dash and dot robots retail at a price of $285, which can be very costly for a school when they need to implement and buy 10-20 robots. Teachers can also find it difficult to draw key outcomes and syllabus requirements and meet them to the robotics lesson that they are teaching. Teachers can also be faced with insufficient technical support and training to know how to use dash and link it to the curriculum. Although, they are costly, they can be very entertaining in the classroom and very beneficial for students to learn many different types of skills.
All photos and videos used are my own, unless stated otherwise.
References
Chalmers, C., V. Chandra, S. Hudson, and P. Hudson. 2012. “Preservice Teachers Teaching Technology with Robotics.” In Going for Gold! Reshaping Teacher Education for the Future, edited by Tania Aspland and Michele Simons. Adelaide: Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA).
Jung, S., & Won, E. S. (2018). Systematic review of research trends in robotics education for young children. Sustainability, 10(4), 905.
http://www.acara.edu.au/reporting/nrosia2009/national-policy-context/educational-goals
Digital Creativity and Learning 
Hi Abeer,
Very interest post regarding incorporating Dash and Dot into the classroom. I thought the youtube video that you showed was very interesting, showing people how important coding is becoming for 21st-century learners, helping them to be innovative and creative learners. However, I didn’t get to use dash and dot myself in tutorials and it would be interesting to know what separates it from the other robots. Does it use ‘drag and drop’ coding or does it use python?
Also with the new Science and technology syllabus incorporating coding, I think that it is becoming a lot easier for teachers to incorporate such activities that involve robots so that students gaining computational thinking as they can see how the codes they have made have been ‘interpreted by the robot’ and played out. Whilst, these robotics can be quite costly, the department of education is offering ‘robotic kits’ to schools at a cheaper price and I believe most schools will benefit from these not only regarding science and technology outcomes but outcomes across all KLA’s.
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Hey Teagan,
To control dash, we used several iPad apps compatible to the robot to control it.
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Hi Abeer,
Great insight into Robotics and use the Dash Dot in the classroom. Introducing students to robotics in an educational setting has so many great advantages, but can be very time consuming to implement and not enough time left to teach alongside our curriculum. The biggest struggle is that there is no manual to implement it in our classrooms, there is manual to build it but how do we implement it correctly without wasting teaching/learning time and even the time it takes to plan the lessons for it.
Great reflection on the advantages of robotics in the classroom as it allows students to become successful learners, engaging them in the whole process, allowing students who never succeeded to have another chance.
Although I found Dash Dot very engaging and fun to play around with, I did not see its worth in my future classroom because of its pricetag and perhaps lack of educational content. Do you think you can incorporate any other KLAs into an experience with Dash Dot to perhaps prove its worth?
Look forward to reading more of your engaging posts 🙂
Thanks,
Shirley
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Hi Abeer,
What an engaging start! You immediately capture the reader’s attention and entice the implementation of robotics in one’s own classroom. I didn’t have a chance to investigate the Dash Dot during tutorials, so this was helpful in order to gain insight into how it could be incorporated into lessons. The age bracket from Kindergarten-Year 5 that you have chosen seems appropriate considering your reference to creative thinking and computational skills. I’m interested that you haven’t included Year 6 as the last part of Stage 3/final year of Primary school…perhaps you feel that Year 6 students require more advanced robotics tools. If so, the Ozobot could be considered here, due to it’s colour co-ordinated pathway programming.
The issues that may arise, such as cost as you mentioned, could definitely be the biggest hinderance to obtaining several for classroom use. This seems to be the case with most digital technologies- creativity and innovative learning comes at an expense!
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Abeer,
This was a great blog post! You provided an insightful look at the benefits and limitations of the use of robotics in education as well as some very informative, instructional information on the ‘Dash and Dot’ robotics tool that teachers could if they were looking to implement robotics into their classrooms. I’m glad that, like me, you see the benefits of implementing robots in education in order to develop students creative thinking and to help them develop adaptable skills. I have to agree that, at this early stage, robotics tools are still very expensive and therefore it may be difficult for schools to purchase ‘class sets’ to allow all students adequate access to the technology. Perhaps moving forward, manufacturers will need to recognise their market (schools and students) and find a way to reduce costs, or schools may have to make more room in their budgets for investing in these technologies given their incredible benefits.
Zali Powell
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