-
Archives
- March 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- October 2023
- January 2023
- October 2022
- August 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- October 2021
- September 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- May 2020
- November 2019
- August 2019
- October 2018
- August 2018
- June 2018
- March 2018
- December 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- June 2016
- February 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- October 2014
- July 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- September 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- March 2010
- January 2009
-
Meta
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
Leave a comment
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
5 Comments
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
