Uses and Benefits of Robotics in

Classrooms

Another extremely promising benefit is their educational potential for children with special
needs in both cognitive and psychosocial areas. The scalability of robot-based
educational proposals, and their enormous motivating potential, make it especially useful
in reinforcement and special education programs.

Back to educational use in Myrobostation, there is a great deal of debate about how
computational and engineering thinking should be learned. People use these skills in
everyday life to deal with all kinds of situations. In addition, through engineering skills,
people develop a better human sensitivity, as long as they enhance their facilitating role
in interpersonal relationships and avoid their role as a substitute for them.

The controversy is about the materials that should be used in the classroom. Some
researchers say that tangible devices increase the immersion level because students are
manipulating things in a real world. However, we can find other studies that understand
that non-tangible devices, such as programming elements, attract more and avoid
limitations because of the need for a physical body in real space. Therefore, what seems
logical is a hybrid approach between robotics and programming, where a fusion between
physical and virtual provides more flexibility to teachers and students.

Several studies point out that educating through interaction with robots adds additional
possibilities to the traditional approach focused on building and programming robots. The
main assumption of this approach is that interaction with robots can reinforce educational
processes and outcomes, such as conceptual learning and cognitive training, motivating
students, supporting curiosity, and raising awareness about robotics.

Robotics and programming together introduce a wonderful dimension - also in its literal
sense because they "amaze!" - the learning experience because computational power is
located not only on a screen but also on tangible objects , who share with us a physical
space and the possibility of being disturbed by our surroundings. Learning through
robotics increases children's engagement in manipulation-based activities, motor skills
development, eye-hand coordination, and a way of understanding abstract ideas. In
addition, robot-based activities provide an appropriate context for cooperative behavior
and teamwork. The literature reports valuable results in technology-based educational
programs such as:

1. Competence in intellectual effort, acquisition of computer skills and technological

fluency.

2. Self-confidence in the handling of concepts and technical problems.

3. Competitions of collaboration and cooperation.

4. Use of technology to establish contacts with peers and adults by creating face-to-face
relationships or virtual communities.

5. Sense of presence and physical reality in increasingly digitized or mediated

environments.
6. Knowledge of their personal values and respect for others, responsible use of
technology.

7. New ideas of application of technology to improve our environment (school,

community, society).

In this context, the Myrobostation organize a set of robotics activities aimed at students,
practical training cycles. It is an extensive program of activities such as conferences,
visits to laboratories and technology workshops linked to robotics; actions that, in
addition, allow students to know firsthand the researchers and researchers working in
this field of knowledge.