Enhancing Relevance and Authenticity in STEM: Exploring Biomimecry in a Frog – Inspired Robot Designs in Developing Pre- School Children’s Manipulative Skills in STEM
Katniyon Henry David, Duguryil Zipporah Pewat, and Longmut Dakup Ibrahim
1,2&3Federal College of Education, Pankshin Plateau State, Nigeria, Nigeria
Abstract
This study explored biomimecry in a frog – inspired robot designs in developing pre- school children’s manipulative skills in STEM in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria. The research aims to assess the impact of manipulating robot components on children's motor skills and engagement, comparing the outcomes in experimental and control groups. The methodology involves constructing a frog robot using accessible materials and measuring children's skill acquisition in various tasks, such as gumming, fixing, and operating the robot. Findings reveal significant differences between the experimental and control groups, indicating that the experimental group demonstrated higher proficiency in manipulative skills owing to hands-on interaction with the robot, whereas the control group exhibited limited skill acquisition. This underscores the potential of nature inspired educational robotics as a transformative tool in manipulative skills development in early childhood education level. It was recommended that pre service teachers trained on integrating play-based learning approaches to enhance children's problem solving and learning l outcomes.
Keywords
Relevance, Authenticity Biomimecry, Robot designs, STEM manipulative skills
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