Research Title: 

The impact of Educational Robotics Summer Course on Students’ Interest in Robotics, Science, Technology, and Career Aspirations: A Pilot Study

Description: 

This pilot study investigates the potential shift in children’s interest towards robotics, science and technology and related careers after participating in an educational robotics summer course. Across three weeks, children will engage with model robotics kits such as Bitbots, LabBits, Sphero, and LEGO Spike in a semi-structured workshop setting. They will be asked to complete a questionnaire both before and after the course. The data collected will be utilised for standard research procedures, including response analysis and presentation at professional conferences.

The study will be conducted by the University of Sheffield as part of a wider project on the value of robots in education.

Confidentiality: 

To ensure privacy, children’s responses will not be associated with their names. Instead, each participant will be assigned an identification number. All data collected will be securely stored and destroyed after the completion of the study.

Risks & Benefits: 

This study poses no risks to your child’s safety. The course content avoids sensitive or controversial topics and contains no elements typically frightening to children. Potential benefits include fostering your child’s interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines and robotics. And your participation in this study can also contribute to our understanding of how robotics can promote STEM education.

Freedom to Withdraw or Refuse Participation:

Your child has the right to withdraw from the research at any time or to refuse to answer any questions without any repercussions from the investigator.

Grievance Procedure:

Should you have concerns or dissatisfaction regarding any aspect of this study, you are encouraged to report them to Prof Tony Prescott via t.j.prescott@sheffield.ac.uk or the site managers of the Healthy Holidays Programme.

Inquiry:

If you have any inquiries about the study, you may contact Miss Cheung Ho Ching, Ruby by emailing ho.cheung@sheffield.ac.uk or Mr Liam Garnett via liam.garnett@leeds.gov.uk.