NRI-Small: Co-Robots for STEM Education in the 21st Century

该项目研究如何使用协作机器人系统和以数学为导向的协作机器人竞赛来提高学生的参与度，增加学生学习代数和后续STEM科目的动力，以及追求STEM相关职业和高等教育的兴趣。该项目利用一个名为Mobot的独特机器人平台（一种为K-12教育设计的智能模块化系统），为一群教师提供相关的教学方法，用计算和机器人技术的具体应用来说明抽象的数学概念。因此，有四个基本的研究问题指导项目：(1)在多大程度上，研究员的学生表现出(a)对STEM课程和职业的兴趣增加，以及(b)对计算和机器人技术的知识增加？(2)在学业成就和敬业度指标上，研究员的学生与非参与教师班级的同类学生相比如何？(3)学生参加机器人舞蹈和数学机器人比赛如何有助于他们对从事计算机和STEM职业和课程的兴趣？(4)课外活动在多大程度上与本项目开发的课程相结合？每年，该项目都会招募15名数学、计算机科学和技术教师作为机器人研究员参加。这些学生将经历为期一周的暑期专业发展，并在整个学年进行跟进。为了在正式和非正式环境中实施，项目团队与课程专家和教师合作，为协作机器人课程制定教学计划、教学材料和评估。该项目与一年一度的加州大学戴维斯分校计算和STEM教育日结合在一起，参与该项目的教师和学生将展示他们的成就。采用混合方法来确定专业发展的效果，并衡量学生的成绩。形成性和总结性评估策略都为项目的发展和实施提供了信息。因此，该项目将通过使用实地测试的协同机器人课程，推进初中和高中数学、技术和基于设计的课堂的理论、设计和实践。

This project studies how to use co-robot systems and math-oriented co-robotics competitions to enhance student engagement, increase student motivation in learning Algebra and subsequent STEM subjects, and interest in pursuing STEM related careers and post-secondary study. The project leverages a unique robotics platform called Mobot (an intelligent modular system designed for K-12 education) to prepare a cohort of teachers to engage their students with relevant pedagogy that illustrates abstract math concepts with concrete applications using computing and robotics. As such, there are four basic research questions that guide project: (1) To what extent do fellows' students exhibit (a) increased interest in STEM coursework and careers, and (b) increased knowledge of computing and robotics? (2) How do fellows' students compare to similar students in non-participating teachers' classes in indicators of academic achievement and engagement? (3) How does students' participation in robotics dance and math robotics competitions contribute to their interest in pursuing computing and STEM careers and coursework? (4) To what extent do after school programs integrate the curriculum developed by this project?Each year, the project recruits 15 mathematics, computer science, and technology teachers to participate as Robotics Fellows. These fellows experience an intensive week long summer professional development with follow up throughout the academic year. For implementation in formal and informal settings, the project team works with curriculum experts and teachers in creating teaching plans, instructional materials and evaluations for a co-robot curriculum. The project is integrated with the annual UC Davis Center for Computing and STEM Education Day, where teachers and students participating in the project showcase their accomplishments.A mixed methods approach is used to determine the effects of the professional development and to measure student outcomes. Both formative and summative evaluation strategies inform the development and implementation of the project. As such, the project will advance theory, design, and practice in middle and high school mathematics, technology and design-based classrooms through the use of a field tested co-robotics curriculum.