IRMA-International.org: Creator of Knowledge
Information Resources Management Association
Advancing the Concepts & Practices of Information Resources Management in Modern Organizations

Programming Robots in Kindergarten to Express Identity: An Ethnographic Analysis

Programming Robots in Kindergarten to Express Identity: An Ethnographic Analysis
View Sample PDF
Author(s): Marina U. Bers (Tufts University, USA)and Alyssa B. Ettinger (Tufts University, USA)
Copyright: 2013
Pages: 17
Source title: Industrial Engineering: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Information Resources Management Association (USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-1945-6.ch105

Purchase

View Programming Robots in Kindergarten to Express Identity: An Ethnographic Analysis on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

This chapter presents a research program that uses robotics as a powerful tool to engage Kindergarten children in developing computational thinking and learning about the engineering design process. Using an ethnographic analysis of an experience in a Kindergarten classroom at the Jewish Community Day School (JCDS), a pluralistic school in Watertown, MA, in which children worked with robotics as a way to explore issues of identity, the chapter highlights both developmental and technological considerations that need to be addressed when engaging young children with robotic activities. This project used an innovative hybrid tangible programming system composed of interlocking wooden blocks, called CHERP, specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of young children. While many robotic programs highlight building aspects and their relationship to engineering education, the approach presented in this chapter complements this by focusing on programming by teaching powerful ideas from computer science at a very early age.

Related Content

Poshan Yu, Zixuan Zhao, Emanuela Hanes. © 2023. 29 pages.
Subramaniam Meenakshi Sundaram, Tejaswini R. Murgod, Madhu M. Nayak, Usha Rani Janardhan, Usha Obalanarasimhaiah. © 2023. 20 pages.
Rekha R. Nair, Tina Babu, Kishore S.. © 2023. 23 pages.
Wasswa Shafik. © 2023. 22 pages.
Jay Kumar Jain, Dipti Chauhan. © 2023. 24 pages.
George Makropoulos, Dimitrios Fragkos, Harilaos Koumaras, Nancy Alonistioti, Alexandros Kaloxylos, Vaios Koumaras, Theoni Dounia, Christos Sakkas, Dimitris Tsolkas. © 2023. 19 pages.
Shouvik Sanyal, Kalimuthu M., Thangaraja Arumugam, Aruna R., Balaji J., Ajitha Savarimuthu, Chandan Chavadi, Dhanabalan Thangam, Sendhilkumar Manoharan, Shasikala Patil. © 2023. 17 pages.
Body Bottom