iArm: Design an Educational Robotic Arm Kit for Inspiring Students' Computational Thinking

Area of Science:

• Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
• Educational Technology
• STEM Education

Background:

• Educational robotics is a key component of information technology education.
• Existing educational robotic arm kits lack comprehensive design and impact studies.
• There is a need to evaluate the effect of robotic arms on students' thinking literacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the iArm, a 6-DOF (Degrees of Freedom) robotic arm kit designed for educational purposes.
• To develop auxiliary modules (vision, conveyor belt) and a curriculum focused on computational thinking.
• To investigate the effectiveness of the iArm kit in enhancing students' computational thinking skills.

Main Methods:

• Development of the iArm robotic arm kit with a drive chassis, arm body, and end tools.
• Integration of vision and conveyor belt modules to support educational activities.
• Implementation of a semester-long curriculum focused on computational thinking for high school students.
• Pre- and post-testing of thirteen participating high school students using established scales.
• Formative and summative evaluation of the iArm kit's impact.

Main Results:

• The iArm kit, including its auxiliary modules and curriculum, was successfully developed.
• Thirteen high school students completed the semester-long program.
• Data analysis from pre- and post-tests indicated a significant enhancement in students' computational thinking.
• Formative and summative evaluations confirmed the kit's effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The iArm educational robotic arm kit is an effective tool for improving computational thinking in high school students.
• The developed auxiliary modules and curriculum contribute to the refinement of educational robotic arm kits.
• This study provides evidence for the positive impact of educational robotics on students' cognitive development in STEM fields.