When students tackle a group robotics challenge, for example, they’re building collaboration and teamwork skills as they learn to work with one another and listen to each team member’s input. Communication skills are emphasized, as is grit–the ability to persist in meeting a challenge even if they first fail or experience setbacks.
Related Content:
eSchool News Robotics Guide
The eSchool News Robotics Guide is here! It features strategies to help you effectively integrate robotics into instruction, along with tips to find the right robotics resources to successfully teach key concepts. A new eSchool News Guide will launch each month–don’t miss a single one!
Here are some of the ways robotics education can help students for life.
Learning to fail: Many teachers focus on coaching students, instead of giving them step-by-step instructions, during robotics education. By coaching and not telling them what buttons to push or what sequence is correct, students are challenged to take ownership of their learning through design thinking. They grow to understand that it’s okay not to arrive at the correct answer the first time. They learn that failing is part of the learning process.
Inquisitive nature: Tomorrow’s inventors and scientists are today’s curious young children—as long as those children are given ample chances to explore and are guided by adults equipped to support them. Fostering a love of exploration and scientific inquiry will help students no matter what they pursue as adults.
Problem solving: Coding, robotics, engineering, and much of STEM in general focuses on solving problems–identifying the problem, testing solutions to see if they work, and reworking the solutions to try again if needed. This process can be modified for even the youngest of learners.
Grit: Call it sticking with it, not quitting, perseverance–whatever terms you use, robotics helps students build it. And in an increasingly competitive global economy, today’s students will need to develop grit to be successful tomorrow.
A foundation that connects to every industry: STEM education is a “foundation to our economy” and “STEM connects to every industry,” according to Project Lead The Way, which brings real-world and hands-on STEM learning into the classroom. Robotics education requires communication, collaboration, creative thinking, and reasoning–these learned skills are transferable to nearly every industry.
- As ESSER spending increases, digital learning is a priority - June 1, 2023
- 5 fun STEM videos for hard-to-engage students - May 31, 2023
- Survey highlights troubling teacher morale issues - May 31, 2023