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Category Archives: Child Development
Drumming Monkey – The Science of Rhythm
I have struggled for years with the science experiment part of the LEGO WeDo Drumming Monkey robot. The experiment workshop tells the students to write down “What I see or hear.” Without further instruction, second grade students tend to write … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Robotics, Teaching
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Grade 3 Vehicle Challenge
Here are some photos from our grade 3 open ended challenge to design a WeDo vehicle. I reviewed 3 ways to connect motor to wheels before they started: gears, pulleys, or direct drives. Students used the base WeDo kit. However, … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Robotics, Teaching
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Design Based Science
A few of you may be interested in this literature review of design based science I just completed. It reviews a good number of papers and studies that evaluate how science concepts and processes can be taught using design. Design … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Robotics
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Designing Ahead
How much young students can plan ahead is a hot topic in educational research (well, at least to me). In discussing our recent designs, my son Aidan (age 7) volunteered that that he thinks about a design ahead of time … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research
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4 Color Problem Case Study Results
I recently completed a exploratory research project that examined how learners respond to a difficult but motivating math problem. I did a small case study, which compared adult math experts, advanced math students (one grade 1 and two grade 4), … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Teaching
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Year 2 Case Study Results – Summary
Year 2 – Longitudinal Robotics Case Study John Heffernan – 7/7/13 Introduction This basic research seeks to understand how children’s engineering skills change over time. Secondarily, I want to know how our K-6 robotics program influences students. Every year from … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Robotics
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Gender Differences in STEM
This is from a very interesting study that looks at how teachers treat boys and girls differently in the context of a STEM LEGO robotics project. It confirms my experience that girls need to be involved in engineering projects all … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Robotics, Teaching
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Spinning Top Misconceptions
The study of alternative or common misconceptions is an active educational research field (Confrey 1990). I have been paying more attention to it in my second grade robotics unit this year which focuses on gears and pulleys. One the of … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Teaching
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New Social Technologies
I noticed for the first time this year (when sixth graders were doing their yearbook pages), how much of their photos are on Instagram and other social media. In the past, kids have brought in photos on CD and USB … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Technology
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Adapting Classic Computer Science Problems for Elementary Students: Case Study of the Four Color Map Theorem
Here’s the abstract for a little research project I am planning for my final project for my inquiry learning course. Still trying to pinpoint exactly what to collect for data and what I am looking for. I tend to be … Continue reading
Posted in Child Development, Research, Teaching, Technology
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