Robotics Education in STEM Units: Breaking Down Barriers in Rural Multigrade Schools

Area of Science:

• STEM Education
• Educational Technology
• Robotics in Education

Background:

• Multigrade rural schools face unique challenges in delivering equitable education.
• The digital divide limits access to innovative learning tools in underserved areas.
• Integrating technology like robotics can offer novel pedagogical solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and explore a robotics-integrated STEM approach for rural multigrade schools.
• To assess the impact of this approach on mathematics and science curricular learning.
• To understand student perceptions of using robotics as a learning tool.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory qualitative methodology was employed.
• The proposal was implemented with 12 multigrade rural students.
• Data were collected through focus groups and semi-structured interviews, followed by thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• The robotics and STEM approach showed potential in addressing multigrade teaching challenges.
• Participants demonstrated enhanced curricular learning in both mathematics and science.
• Students expressed positive perceptions regarding the use of robotics for learning.

Conclusions:

• The proposed robotics-integrated STEM approach offers a viable strategy for improving educational outcomes in rural multigrade settings.
• This innovative method can simultaneously foster learning across multiple school grades, addressing diverse curriculum needs.
• The findings suggest a promising alternative for enhancing STEM education in resource-limited rural environments.