Neurorobotics Workshop for High School Students Promotes Competence and Confidence in Computational Neuroscience

Area of Science:

• Computational Neuroscience
• Robotics in Education
• STEM Education

Background:

• Effective treatments for brain disorders remain limited, highlighting the need for advanced neuroscience training.
• Current neuroscience education in schools often lacks hands-on computational modeling experiences.
• Modern neuroscience research increasingly relies on computational models to understand brain circuitry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce neurorobots as an educational technology for teaching computational neuroscience in high school.
• To provide a practical, low-cost DIY neurorobot and accompanying software for classroom use.
• To assess the impact of a neurorobot workshop on students' understanding of neuroscience concepts and confidence.

Main Methods:

• Developed a DIY neurorobot using accessible parts (camera, sensors, motors) costing approximately $170.
• Created an open-source Neurorobot App for real-time visualization and interaction with the robot's 'brain'.
• Conducted a 1-week workshop for 295 high school students, incorporating lessons on neural networks and plasticity.

Main Results:

• Students demonstrated significant improvements in understanding key neuroscience concepts after the workshop.
• Workshop participation led to increased student confidence in their neuroscience knowledge and abilities.
• The DIY neurorobot and workshop are feasible for high school settings, requiring under 4 hours for assembly.

Conclusions:

• Neurorobots offer a powerful, hands-on approach to teaching computational neuroscience, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
• This educational technology effectively engages students and enhances learning outcomes in neuroscience.
• The study provides resources to promote the adoption of educational neurorobotics in high schools.