Developing skills with educational robotics. Reflections and opportunities from a case study

This study delved into the contrasting perspectives regarding the role of digital technologies in education, focusing on the potential of educational robotics. It explored the debate between those who advocate delaying children’s exposure to digital media and those who highlight the benefits of integrating digital tools into pedagogical practices. Educational robotics emerges as a multifaceted field, rooted in constructivist theories where learning is intertwined with the act of building tangible objects, cultivating a “learn how to learn” mindset. This paper underscored the importance of educational robotics as a 21st-century language, facilitating comprehension of the increasingly interconnected world and communication dynamics. It emphasised that robotics can be introduced to students of all ages, providing opportunities for collaborative learning and individual adaptation. The study advocated for the cross-curricular integration of robotics in education, focusing on the development of interdisciplinary competencies. It emphasised that knowledge is constructed through active participation, and robotics offers a concrete tool for creative thinking and collaboration. Furthermore, the research explored the pedagogical potential of educational robotics within the framework of New Media Literacy Education, emphasising the development of soft skills and the empowerment of students in their knowledge journey. The study’s primary research questions revolved around identifying the soft skills that educational robotics and coding can foster in secondary school students. It reported on the conducted educational robotics workshops and their impact on students, highlighting the development of soft skills in alignment with existing literature and increased motivation and relational dimensions.