Empowering the Future: Developing a Comprehensive Robotics Curriculum for the Next Generation of Innovators
Genevieve A. Pillar, Dennis Cesar R. Patino, Socorro Echevarria Aguja, Maricar Sison Prudente · 2024
Robotics is becoming part of the schools’ curriculum, and this is attributed to the reality that students will graduate into an era where robots will be widely used in one's everyday lives. Hence, innovative transformation must be reflected in the curriculum of the De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ). A descriptive and collaborative action research design and ADDIE model were employed in this study. Quantitative data were extracted from curriculum and mastery report: performance data, rubrics, practice tasks, Likert scale, and performance tasks. Qualitative data were obtained from reflection journals, classroom observation, weekly learning guide, survey questionnaires, focus group discussion, and portfolio. The following stakeholders were involved in this study: Grades 3 to 12 students (n1=1,930), teachers (n2=10), parents (n3=30), and subject-area coordinators (n4=20). The study dealt with the following research questions: (1) How is the DLSZ current robotics program described in terms of: Perspectives on Creativity and Innovation (PCI), Effectiveness of Robotics Intervention Strategy (ERIS), Stakeholders Evaluation of the Robotics Program (SERP); (2) How is the proposed robotics curriculum designed; and (3) How are the essential features of the proposed robotics curriculum materials and activities developed, implemented, and evaluated in terms of: content, competencies, modalities, and assessment. Results revealed that coding and programming were the students’ constraints for them to be able to do the Robotics activities. The Robotics teachers took note of the stakeholders’ feedback and made adjustment to address better learning and appreciate the supposed learning experience. The DLSZ school allowed the Robotics teachers to set up appropriate delivery for online learning, by utilizing the DLSZ Do-it-Yourself Robot kit and apps for simulations that were fit for the learning targets and relevant to the Robotics skills being learned. Feedback from the stakeholders were the bases for the development of the comprehensive Robotics Curriculum for the next generation of innovators.