Abstract:

At a time when Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is of paramount importance, the CYBATHLON @school initiative is emerging as an innovative educational model. The program aligns with CYBATHLON's larger mission to promote the development of assistive technologies through international competitions that demonstrate the practical applicability of STEM and its societal impact.

CYBATHLON @school has developed three modules designed to engage students between the ages of 8 and 12 through hands-on, interactive experiences to foster primary school students' interest in STEM while increasing their empathy for people with disabilities. As time and money are important factors when deciding to invite external initiatives into classrooms, special attention was given to developing a cost-effective and scalable approach to our module structure. Because interventions with more than one point of contact are often more effective, multiple exposures is another key principle of the new structure.

Module 1 uses an interactive video to immerse students in the life of a person who uses a wheelchair, providing decision scenarios with consequences for how the story unfolds. The module and accompanying resources are publicly available for anyone to download and for teachers to use at their convenience. Module 2 allows students to explore and understand the implications of use for people with disabilities and to see the creative process behind assistive devices by experimenting with prosthetic samples from a free lending box. Finally, Module 3 involves programming a mini wheelchair using micro:bit controllers and EMG muscle sensors, facilitated by ETH students acting as role models and accompanied by ambassadors with disabilities who share their daily experiences and discuss questions with the students. A version for students aged 13 to 16 was derived to support a school competition in the run-up to CYBATHLON 2024. In this module, a servo gripper is programmed instead of a mini wheelchair.

Preliminary results of the accompanying randomized control trial (RCT), evaluated by the Chair of Educational Systems at ETH Zurich, show high satisfaction rates among students, parents and teachers. Students have expressed strong enthusiasm for the program. The research uses the Expectancy-Value Model to assess the impact on students' interest in STEM, including their perceptions of AI-generated images of people in STEM careers.

The Learning Conference poster will detail the scalability model, describe each module, and present the innovative instructional design using skill cards. It will also highlight preliminary RCT results and demonstrate the project's potential to enrich K-6 education by integrating STEM activities with social justice considerations. The CYBATHLON @school initiative not only promotes interest in STEM, but also ensures that learning is connected to meaningful content, which is particularly effective in engaging female students.

Researchers and practitioners attending the Learning Conference will gain insights into the successful fusion of empathy-building and STEM education as exemplified by the CYBATHLON @school initiative. This abstract invites participants to explore how such educational models can inspire future generations to create a more inclusive and technologically advanced society.

Keywords:

STEM Education, Computer Science Education, Equity, K-6, K-12.