ERIC Number: EJ1132825
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Apr
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-0145
EISSN: N/A
Effect of Robotics on Elementary Preservice Teachers' Self-Efficacy, Science Learning, and Computational Thinking
Jaipal-Jamani, Kamini; Angeli, Charoula
Journal of Science Education and Technology, v26 n2 p175-192 Apr 2017
The current impetus for increasing STEM in K-12 education calls for an examination of how preservice teachers are being prepared to teach STEM. This paper reports on a study that examined elementary preservice teachers' (n = 21) self-efficacy, understanding of science concepts, and computational thinking as they engaged with robotics in a science methods course. Data collection methods included pretests and posttests on science content, prequestionnaires and postquestionnaires for interest and self-efficacy, and four programming assignments. Statistical results showed that preservice teachers' interest and self-efficacy with robotics increased. There was a statistically significant difference between preknowledge and postknowledge scores, and preservice teachers did show gains in learning how to write algorithms and debug programs over repeated programming tasks. The findings suggest that the robotics activity was an effective instructional strategy to enhance interest in robotics, increase self-efficacy to teach with robotics, develop understandings of science concepts, and promote the development of computational thinking skills. Study findings contribute quantitative evidence to the STEM literature on how robotics develops preservice teachers' self-efficacy, science knowledge, and computational thinking skills in higher education science classroom contexts.
Descriptors: STEM Education, Elementary Secondary Education, Preservice Teacher Education, Elementary School Teachers, Teacher Education Programs, Self Efficacy, Scientific Concepts, Thinking Skills, Computation, Robotics, Science Instruction, Methods Courses, Pretests Posttests, Questionnaires, Student Interests, Knowledge Level, Assignments, Statistical Analysis, Technology Uses in Education, Educational Technology, Programming, Teaching Methods
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A