LEGO Robotics in Education - Alisha James

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Martínez Ortiz, A. (2015). Examining students’ proportional reasoning strategy levels as evidence of the impact of an integrated LEGO robotics and mathematics learning experience. Journal of Technology Education, 26(2), 46–69.
https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1063604

Summary:

• The goal of this study was to observe the impact of integrating engineering with a general mathematics classroom. 

• Researchers focused on how LEGO robotic technology impacted the students’ learning with ratios and proportions. 

• “The hypothesis is that learning in the context of engineering robotics may be more meaningful and long lasting for students than learning with a non-engineering, textbook-based mathematics curriculum” (Martínez, 2015).

• “The results of this study indicated that the students were able to make significant progress in learning new concepts of ratio and proportion while also learning basic definitions related to LEGO robotics engineering design and programming when this learning took place in an integrated engineering and mathematics context” (64).

• “The main message of these findings is that educational robotics can serve as a motivating context that may be very beneficial as an instructional tool in the integrated engineering mathematics classroom when teaching concepts of ratio and proportion and potentially many others” (65).

Evaluate:

• I am a big fan of integrating activities, especially LEGOS into learning environments. 

• However, this study conducted could be improved in several ways such as increasing the sample size. This study used a sample size of 30 fifth graders in the same school in Texas. Increased sample sizes would allow more accurate statistics that could produce a better conclusion.

• Another improvement could include a more focused study on the types of techniques the teachers used to integrate the technology. 

UC Davis. (2016, July 15). Making math fun with robotics [video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CCYA-_jQbs

Summary:

• This video was produced by the University of California, Davis. The program called C-STEM created by Professor Harry Cheng. The program takes the place of traditional textbooks. Instead, K-12 students use robots and programming to learn math, computing, science, technology and engineering.

• In the video Mrs. Cole shared how, the program has helped her daughter not only understand the math, but actually love it. 

• The opening of the video gives statistics such as the number of students who drop out of high school in the United States. This sets the stage to why the creators find this program to be so significant. The importance is to reengage students. With this program the students, “are more engaged in the material, more confident in their problem-solving ability and more open to the possibility of careers in these fields” (Cheng)

Evaluate:

• I loved to see the testimonies in this video because it let the audience see the impact the program has had long term from the mouth of parents and the students themselves. 

• One of my favorite lines in the video was said by Cathy Lee; a math teacher at American Canyon Middle School who said, “Before I implemented the C-STEM program, I was teaching out of a traditional text. And so, the students would often be bored. They did not understand the meaning of the math, because all they were doing was the math” (1:22). I love this quote mainly because Ms. Lee mentioned the meaning of the math. Many students can do the math, but are not interested in retaining it because the math has no meaning or relevancy to them. However, with this program they are not completing worksheets where they replicate textbook examples, but rather are learning the math within the application of the math. As Katrina in the video said, she is now doing math without knowing she is doing math. 

Reflection on LEGO Robotics Education:

Student engagement is an issue for many schools and I believe many people are starting to try to find ways to reengage students. I believe based on this research and my own experience as a Lego architect and student, that the integration of this robotics technology is a great way to reengage students. Many of these students have been raised with this type of technology and many career paths today are built around this technology. The programs are not only fun and help give the students context to what they are learning, but the students are given opportunities to also build skills they can use in their future careers.

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