TEACHING MATHEMATICS WITH VIRTUAL ROBOTS TO STUDENTS

Abstract

The study introduces the case of development of mathematics oriented 20-h robotics course for students (n=50) with educational program of “6B01501 - Mathematics”. The research aimed at exploring the impact of robotics on students’ motivation and engagement by learning math using robotics activities. These activities include controlling virtual robots while learning Algebra concepts. Overall, the aim of practicing math using robots is to investigate the effectiveness of this approach to teaching math, and to identify ways to improve math education using technology. During the study, the researchers examined the global application of robotics and conducted a review of academic databases to collect relevant literature. The findings revealed a dearth of knowledge in the academic literature concerning this particular subject. The study was carried out for three months on the basis of NJSC "Zhetysu University named after Ilyas Zhansugurov" (Taldykorgan), during which the training program "Learning Mathematics with the help of robotics" was developed and tested. Example of lessons at roboblocky.com implemented by students presented in this article. Roboblocky is an educational platform that integrates robotics and programming to facilitate the instruction of mathematical and scientific concepts to students. The platform employs a block-based programming approach, which enhances the accessibility and comprehension of these concepts among students. Based on the available research, it can be concluded that teaching math with Roboblocky is a promising approach. Studies on using robotics to teach mathematics have shown that it can improve student engagement, achievement, problem-solving skills, and spatial reasoning. Additionally, the use of virtual robots in the classroom can promote positive attitudes towards learning among students.