Abstract:

The educational research project RoboPraX uses humanoid robots (Type NAO from SoftBank Robotics) not only as an easy entry to programming and STEM education, but also to demystify robotics / AI and to promote STEM fields. Achieving these goals requires working on the actual robot, as many features are only available on the physical robot. The in-class workshops have shown that this approach can have many beneficial side-effects, such as increased motivation for computer science and enhanced computational thinking. The current pandemic situation however asks for social distancing, making regular classes with groups working on robots next to impossible. To keep learners motivated and in practice, the project team RoboPraX has started to develop two educational schemes using the virtual NAO robot, which is available in the visual programming environment Choregraphe.

The first scheme consists of asynchronous self-guided educational videos where an application for the virtual robot is programmed. This is supplemented by worksheets, a master solution as well as further information. The target group are learners who want to get to know the visual programming software or to program an app for NAO robots. The second scheme is a synchronous course, where the project team teaches learners how to program NAO robots live online using a video conferencing tool and the features of the virtual robot. This approach tries to give schools and students an opportunity to take part in a so-called virtual Robotikum when physical meetings are for some reasons (e.g. pandemic) not possible. The results of the evaluation of the first pilot installment of the second scheme will complete this paper.

Keywords:

Educational robotics, NAO robots, Covid-19, online learning, self-guided learning, remote teaching, virtual robots, asynchronous learning, synchronous learning.