Category Archives: Child Development

Comprehensive Exam Proposal

Posted on April 15, 2014 by JohnHeffernan

Comprehensive Examination Proposal Elementary Robotics Case Study John Heffernan University of Massachusetts, Amherst March 19, 2014   Problem Statement Designerly play has been identified as a fundamental component of childhood learning (Baynes, 1994). Designerly play is supported in typical preschool … Continue reading →

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Drumming Monkey – The Science of Rhythm

Posted on March 21, 2014 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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Grade 3 Vehicle Challenge

Posted on December 12, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 | 5 Comments

Design Based Science

Posted on December 6, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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Designing Ahead

Posted on October 7, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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4 Color Problem Case Study Results

Posted on October 4, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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Year 2 Case Study Results – Summary

Posted on September 11, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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Gender Differences in STEM

Posted on July 27, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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Spinning Top Misconceptions

Posted on April 1, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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New Social Technologies

Posted on April 1, 2013 by JohnHeffernan

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 →

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