Title: Robotics in primary school in the opinion of prospective and in-service teachers. A comparison study

Authors: Nataliia Morze; Eugenia Smyrnova-Trybulska; Wojciech Zuziak; Piet Kommers; Mariia Gladun

Addresses: Faculty of Information Technology and Governance, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University, 18/2 Vorovskogo Str, Kyiv, Ukraine ' Faculty of Ethnology and Sciences of Education, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bielska 62, 43-400 Cieszyn, Poland ' Regional In-Service Teacher Training Centre 'WOM', Legionów 25, 43-300 Bielsko-Bia?a, Poland ' Department of Media, Communication and Organisation, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands ' Faculty of Information Technology and Governance, Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University, 18/2 Vorovskogo Str, Kyiv, Ukraine

Abstract: This article describes some issues concerning the use of robots in primary school as an object and subject of learning. The authors conclude, based on an analysis of earlier research as well as their own study, that educational robots can stimulate learners' learning motivation. Compared with other media, programmable bricks provide children with the opportunity to create their own products and, through this process, to express creative thinking. Studies have found that learning robotics or integrating programming bricks into courses can help to develop students' problem-solving abilities and enhance their learning performance. Besides, an analysis is presented of basic legal regulations in this matter, primary school curricula as well as some results of a survey conducted in Poland and Ukraine among in-service teachers and prospective teachers.

Keywords: curricula; key competences; motivation; robotics in primary school; students' problem-solving abilities; survey.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2017.087140

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2017 Vol.27 No.4, pp.318 - 338

Received: 20 Aug 2016
Accepted: 05 Nov 2016
Published online: 06 Oct 2017 *

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