research-article

Robotics camps, clubs, and competitions

Authors:

Bradley Barker,

Neal Grandgenett,

Greg WelchAuthors Info & Claims

Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Volume 75, Issue PB

Pages 686 - 691

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.robot.2015.07.011

Published: 01 January 2016 Publication History

Abstract

Funded by the US National Science Foundation, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has spent the last eight years developing and implementing a comprehensive educational robotics program for youth ages 9-14. The program was delivered in informal (out-of-school) learning environments through robotics camps, clubs, and competitions and provided robotics experiences to over 5000 youth and 400 educators. The goal of the project was to positively impact the youths' science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) knowledge and attitudes - and to foster an interest in STEM careers. Results of extensive research and evaluation showed that youth participation in the robotics activities increased their STEM content knowledge (particularly engineering and computer programming), their perceived problem solving skills and their interest in engineering careers. Youth also perceived that the robotics activities were different from those in school, reporting that the robotics camp was more interesting and involved more hands-on activities. Robotics camps, clubs and competitions foster youth STEM content knowledge.Robotics camps and competitions promote youth problem solving skills.Robotics camps are effective in promoting interest in engineering careers.Youth reported that the camp activities were more interesting than those in school.

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Cited By

Zhou S(2025)Understanding the Impact of Programming Club on Programming ExperiencesCompanion Proceedings of the 2025 ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work10.1145/3688828.3699637(36-41)Online publication date: 12-Jan-2025
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3688828.3699637
Fokum DChen Shui ZWright KParadise OMansingh GCoore DStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)A High School Camp on Algorithms and Coding in a Small Island Developing StateProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630762(352-358)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3626252.3630762
Smolarczyk KMouratidis MUhing SBecker RKröner S(2024)Let’s get them on boardInternational Journal of Child-Computer Interaction10.1016/j.ijcci.2024.10066941:COnline publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.ijcci.2024.100669

Robotics camps, clubs, and competitions
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs

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cover image Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Robotics and Autonomous Systems Volume 75, Issue PB

January 2016

582 pages

ISSN:0921-8890

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © Elsevier B.V.

Publisher

North-Holland Publishing Co.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 January 2016

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Cited By

Zhou S(2025)Understanding the Impact of Programming Club on Programming ExperiencesCompanion Proceedings of the 2025 ACM International Conference on Supporting Group Work10.1145/3688828.3699637(36-41)Online publication date: 12-Jan-2025
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3688828.3699637
Fokum DChen Shui ZWright KParadise OMansingh GCoore DStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)A High School Camp on Algorithms and Coding in a Small Island Developing StateProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630762(352-358)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3626252.3630762
Smolarczyk KMouratidis MUhing SBecker RKröner S(2024)Let’s get them on boardInternational Journal of Child-Computer Interaction10.1016/j.ijcci.2024.10066941:COnline publication date: 1-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1016/j.ijcci.2024.100669

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