Pursuing Social Justice in Educational Robotics
In educational systems that make their first attempt to incorporate STEAM concepts in their teaching, educational robotics is typically the place to start; robotics kits are purchased, and a small group of pupils is typically selected to develop a project and perhaps to also take part in some local...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/8/565 |
| _version_ | 1797432239648145408 |
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| author | Manolis Wallace Vassilis Poulopoulos |
| author_facet | Manolis Wallace Vassilis Poulopoulos |
| author_sort | Manolis Wallace |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In educational systems that make their first attempt to incorporate STEAM concepts in their teaching, educational robotics is typically the place to start; robotics kits are purchased, and a small group of pupils is typically selected to develop a project and perhaps to also take part in some local or national robotics competition. Whilst this can be a very stimulating and rewarding experience for the participating pupils, it does little to introduce STEAM to the rest of the pupils in the school. In this article, we present our work towards a more fair and socially just approach to educational robotics. Compared with the conventional approach to educational robotics, our work introduces the following novelties: (A) shorter educational programs so that equipment can be re-used, (B) out-of-school implementation so that the programs are accessible to pupils from all schools, even from those schools that do not have teachers willing to be involved in STEAM programs and (C) scaling via the training of teachers who then act as multipliers of our action. The approach was applied, before being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, in a specially developed innovation hub, and the initial results are reported herein. Based on those findings, the potential of our approach to achieve a broader societal impact is highlighted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:58:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c696b6db0d14ccd9fc8cba2771f4d16 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:58:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c696b6db0d14ccd9fc8cba2771f4d162023-12-01T23:37:59ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022022-08-0112856510.3390/educsci12080565Pursuing Social Justice in Educational RoboticsManolis Wallace0Vassilis Poulopoulos1ΓAΒ LAB—Knowledge and Uncertainty Research Laboratory, University of Peloponnese, 221 31 Tripoli, GreeceΓAΒ LAB—Knowledge and Uncertainty Research Laboratory, University of Peloponnese, 221 31 Tripoli, GreeceIn educational systems that make their first attempt to incorporate STEAM concepts in their teaching, educational robotics is typically the place to start; robotics kits are purchased, and a small group of pupils is typically selected to develop a project and perhaps to also take part in some local or national robotics competition. Whilst this can be a very stimulating and rewarding experience for the participating pupils, it does little to introduce STEAM to the rest of the pupils in the school. In this article, we present our work towards a more fair and socially just approach to educational robotics. Compared with the conventional approach to educational robotics, our work introduces the following novelties: (A) shorter educational programs so that equipment can be re-used, (B) out-of-school implementation so that the programs are accessible to pupils from all schools, even from those schools that do not have teachers willing to be involved in STEAM programs and (C) scaling via the training of teachers who then act as multipliers of our action. The approach was applied, before being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, in a specially developed innovation hub, and the initial results are reported herein. Based on those findings, the potential of our approach to achieve a broader societal impact is highlighted.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/8/565educational roboticsinnovation hubsocial justice |
| spellingShingle | Manolis Wallace Vassilis Poulopoulos Pursuing Social Justice in Educational Robotics Education Sciences educational robotics innovation hub social justice |
| title | Pursuing Social Justice in Educational Robotics |
| title_full | Pursuing Social Justice in Educational Robotics |
| title_fullStr | Pursuing Social Justice in Educational Robotics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pursuing Social Justice in Educational Robotics |
| title_short | Pursuing Social Justice in Educational Robotics |
| title_sort | pursuing social justice in educational robotics |
| topic | educational robotics innovation hub social justice |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/12/8/565 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manoliswallace pursuingsocialjusticeineducationalrobotics AT vassilispoulopoulos pursuingsocialjusticeineducationalrobotics |