Title of Initiative / Project
Educational robotics for students with learning disabilities
Name of Organiser
Nottingham Trent University
Start and ending date of the Initiative
2013-2016
Was the initiative carried out in the framework of a funded project?
Yes
Funding Programme
KA3 - Information and communication technologies - ICT
Title of the project
Educational Robotics for Students with Learning Disabilities
Promoter
Nottingham Trent University
Project number
543577-LLP-1-2013-1-UK-KA3-KA3MP
Type of deliverables
Teaching Methodology, Didactical resource
Thematic area
Technology, ICT
Language of the deliverable
Bulgarian, Italian, Polish, Other EU, English
Target Group
Teachers, Students
Description of the initiative
EDUROB aims to develop innovative robotic mediated learning strategies for
students with learning disabilities, supported by dedicated training material &
validated through 6 pilots. EDUROB based itself on the fact that cognitive
development can be enhanced by means of mediated learning as signalled by Feuerstein’s Mediated Learning theory (Creating & Enhancing Cognitive
Modifiability: The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment Program by Reuven
Feuerstein, Raphael S. Feuerstein, Louis Falik & Yaacov Rand, 2006
.). Based on this theory, EDUROB proposes an intervention model that aims to drive students’ cognitive processes while addressing much needed transferable & social skills, making use of the possibilities offered by robotics & their engaging & immersive possibilities. This approach fosters functions related to the input of mental stages such as perception. Using an ethnographic approach the project will aim to validate innovative-robotics based-teaching & learning strategies which enable diversification&personalisation of learning pathways & let our target groups reach learning goals normally out of their range by other methods.
Education professionals working with the target group will be involved as core
participants to define a pedagogy based on robotics. The project will validate a robotic based pedagogy & implement the case studies with people with learning disabilities, to develop transferable & social skills through robotic based learning scenarios & a didactical toolkit which will be fully develo
ped within the project.
The project as such provides an ICT (robotics) based innovative pedagogy to
acquire new skills (communicative, collaborative) in a way that allows for people with learning disabilities to engage & acquire. EDUROB aims to contribute to evidence based innovative ICT for learning pathways, & will demonstrate this via dedicated localised and customised pilots in BG, IT, LT, TR, PL & UK, involving pedagogical experts & local user groups
More Information
EDUROB aims to develop innovative robotic mediated learning strategies for students with learning disabilities, supported by dedicated training material & validated through 6 pilots. EDUROB based itself on the fact that cognitive development can be enhanced by means of mediated learning as signalled by Feuerstein’s Mediated Learning theory (Creating & Enhancing Cognitive Modifiability). The focus on students with disabilities makes the objectives of the project more relevant and it develops transferable & social skills through robotic based learning scenarios & a didactical toolkit developed within the project.
Teachers’ Opinion
EDUROB offers a new chance to the student with learning disabilities and a new performance out of reach in other circumstances. It proposes an intervention model that aims to drive students’ cognitive processes while addressing much needed transferable & social skills, making use of the possibilities offered by robotics & their engaging & immersive possibilities. This approach fosters functions related to the input of mental stages such as perception.
Using an ethnographic approach the project will aim to validate innovative-robotics based-teaching & learning strategies which enable diversification&personalisation of learning pathways & let our target groups reach learning goals normally out of their range by other methods.
Students’ Opinion
I am sure that the use of the robotics are great, I would give everything if our school would have something like that. Our science classes are boring, only theory, very few practical activities. I saw some shows on TV on the use of robotics and I learned a lot of things, it is very interactive and interesting. These kind of tolls are very interesting and useful for us, but I can imagine what great results can bring for the students with learning disabilities. We will present the project to our teachers and hopefully they will understand the usefulness of the practical activities for our IT and science classes and the school principal will get more involved in supporting these activities and will equip the laboratories with robotics tools.
Comments on this Relevant initiatives
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Date: 2015.02.28
Posted by Maricica Matei (Romania)
This project is extremely useful and challenging because students with learning disabilities require special attention. In an era of technology, robots can provide a powerful alternative learning method for these students and can help them in this way to make good progress in educational approach. Teachers can use this way special equipment and facilities such as audiovisual materials and computers to stimulate interest in learning.
This project gives teachers the opportunity to identify a set of strategies and measures in order to help them identifying individual needs of theirs students and being responsible for creating a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment.
Definitely, I use some of the materials made available according to the needs of students identified with such problems.