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The Use of Robotics in Introductory Programming for Elementary Students

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Educational Robotics in the Makers Era (Edurobotics 2016 2016)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 560))

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Abstract

Studies have shown that teaching programming to students is often a difficult task. The programming language itself is not as much a challenge as the concepts and structures, which define it. This paper explores the use of educational robotics to introduce basic programming concepts through meaningful teaching and learning activities with the hands-on use of bee-bots. The results from an empirical study show that students can successfully develop algorithmic thinking and programming skills based on their knowledge acquired by the bee-bots. Thanks to the tactile interaction with robots, students developed their creativity and imagination as built systems with Lego WeDo, all the while enjoying the course through teamwork activities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Primary Education, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Lito Athanasiou, Paraskevi Topali & Tassos A. Mikropoulos

Authors
  1. Lito Athanasiou
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  2. Paraskevi Topali
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  3. Tassos A. Mikropoulos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paraskevi Topali .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. European Lab for Educational Technology , Sparta, Greece

    Dimitris Alimisis

  2. Department of Information Engineering, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy

    Michele Moro

  3. Department of Information Engineering, Università degli Studi di Padova , Padova, Italy

    Emanuele Menegatti

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Athanasiou, L., Topali, P., Mikropoulos, T.A. (2017). The Use of Robotics in Introductory Programming for Elementary Students. In: Alimisis, D., Moro, M., Menegatti, E. (eds) Educational Robotics in the Makers Era. Edurobotics 2016 2016. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 560. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55553-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55553-9_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55552-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55553-9

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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