Volume 39 Number 3 Spring 2007 Robotics as Means to Increase Achievement Scores in an Informal Learning EnvironmentBradley S. Barker and John Ansorge AbstractThis paper reports on a pilot study that examined the use of a science and technology curriculum based on robotics to increase the achievement scores of youth ages 9–11 in an after school program. The study examined and compared the pretest and posttest scores of youth in the robotics intervention with youth in a control group. The results revealed that youth in the robotics intervention had a significant increase in mean scores on the posttest and that the control group had no significant change in scores from the pretest to the posttest. In addition, the results of the study indicated that the evaluation instrument used to measure achievement was valid and reliable for this study.
ContributorsBradley S. Barker, PHD is an assistant professor and 4-H youth development specialist for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is PI of the NSF-funded Robotics and GPS/GIS in 4-H: Workforce Skills for the 21st Century project. His research focuses on use of robotics in informal learning environments. (Address: Bradley Barker, Nebraska 4-H, 114 Agricultural Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0700; e-mail bbarker@unl.edu.) John Ansorge is an experienced producer of interactive educational materials. He completed his Master's degree in educational technology in 2006. (Address: John Ansorge, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 4-H Youth Development; email: jansorge@unl.edu.) Copyright 2007, (International Society for Technology in Education). All rights reserved. | ||||
