History and Educational Potential of LEGO Mindstorms NXT

Year 2013, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 127 - 137, 21.01.2013

Memet Üçgül

Abstract

Educational usage of the robotics has accelerated recently because of educational potential of robotics has been recognized by educators and popularity of international robotics tournaments. Many university and schools prepare technology and robotics related summer schools for children. LEGO Mindstorms NXT is the most popular and commonly used robotics set for educational purposes. These robot sets rooted to Seymour Papert’s LOGO studies which have much influence Instructional Technology in 1960’s. This study aims to present a literature review on educational potential of LEGO Mindstorms NXT robotics sets. Robotics mainly used in education for supporting the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Most of the related studies resulted with positive effects of the robotics activities in STEM education. Robotics also used in education to increase some skills of the children such as discovery learning, critical thinking and social skills.

Keywords

LEGO Mindstorms NXT, robotics, educational potential

History and Educational Potential of LEGO Mindstorms NXT

Abstract

LEGO Mindstorms NXT’lerin Tarihi ve Eğitsel Potansiyeli: Robotların eğitsel amaçlarla kullanımı giderek artmaktadır. Eğitimcilerin robotların eğitsel potansiyelinin farkına varmaları ve uluslararası robot turnuvalarının popülerlik kazanmasının robotların eğitsel kullanımına katkısı büyüktür. Birçok üniversite ve okul, teknoloji ve robotlar konulu yaz kampları düzenlemektedirler. LEGO Mindstorms NXT en popüler ve en çok kullanılan eğitsel robot setleridir. Bu robot setlerinin geçmişi, Seymour Papert’in LOGO çalışmalarına dayanmaktadır. Bu çalışmaların 1960’larda eğitim teknolojisine büyük etkileri olmuştur. Bu tarama çalışmasının amacı son zamanlarda eğitimcilerin ilgisini çeken, robotların eğitsel amaçlarla kullanımına yönelik çalışmaları inceleyerek, LEGO Mindstorms NXT robot setlerinin eğitim amaçlı kullanım potansiyellerinin belirlenmesidir. Robotlar eğitimde en çok FTMM (Fen, Teknoloji, Mühendislik ve Matematik) eğitimini desteklemek amaçlı kullanılmışlardır. Bu konuda yapılan çalışmaların büyük bir bölümü robotların FTMM eğitimine pozitif etkisiyle sonuçlanmıştır. Robotların eğitimde bir diğer kullanım alanı ise çocukların keşfetme, eleştirel düşünebilme ve sosyal becerilerini geliştirme amaçlıdır.

Keywords

LEGO Mindstorms NXT, robotik, eğitsel potansiyel

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