Laughter over dread: early collaborative problem solving through an extended induction using robots.

Zarb, Mark; Scott, Michael

Abstract

Software development companies want new hires with strong interpersonal and problem solving skills. To ensure the development of such skills, they must be embedded throughout the curriculum. However, many students struggle to collaborate with peers and in self-regulated practice during the early stages of their course. Explicit scaffolding can, however, motivate such engagement. This tips and techniques session shows how an ice-breaker using LEGO EV3 robots at two UK institutions enhanced peer interaction and increased self-regulated practice over the first four weeks of 2016-17 and 2017-18.

Citation

ZARB, M. and SCOTT, M. 2019. Laughter over dread: early collaborative problem solving through an extended induction using robots. In Proceedings of the 24th Innovation and technology in computer science education annual conference 2019 (ITiCSE 2019), 15-17 July 2019, Aberdeen, UK. New York: ACM Press [online], pages 249-250. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1145/3304221.3325548

• Conference Name: 24th Innovation and technology in computer science education annual conference 2019 (ITiCSE 2019)
• Conference Location: Aberdeen, UK
• Start Date: Jul 15, 2019
• End Date: Jul 17, 2019
• Acceptance Date: Mar 11, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jul 2, 2019
• Publication Date: Jul 2, 2019
• Deposit Date: Sep 27, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 27, 2019
• Publisher: ACM Association for Computing Machinery
• Pages: 249-250
• ISBN: 9781450368957
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3304221.3325548
• Keywords: Interpersonal skills; Teamwork; Problem solving; Induction; Communities of practice; Robots
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/329633