Robotics in physics education: fostering graphing abilities in kinematics

This paper reports a robotics-based learning experiement that took place in a school physics class (20 students aged 15). The students worked in groups to construct a robotic vehicle using Lego Mindstorms NXT kit, and then they programmed it to move in linear way first at constant speed, then at constant acceleration and deceleration. Position-time data from each experiement was logged and graphs were produced by the students using Lego Education data logging tool. The students had already been taught kinematics in a traditional lecture-based way before the experiement and their graphing abilities in kinematics were tested before and after the experiement using a special paper and pencil test. Post-test scores were found significantly higher than pre-test ones providing evidence of a positive learning impact.