National Science Foundation, $300,000, 2012-2015

In this exploratory project we are investigating how modular robotics technology and handheld computers can be used to engage students in collaborative learning mathematics concepts. In partnership with the UC Davis C-STEM center, we are working to develop technology and design principles for infusing middle school computing and mathematics courses with hands-on collaborative robotics tools and activities. We aim to use these novel designs to investigate aspects of collaborative learning processes that may be uniquely afforded by robotics materials and problem-solving challenges. The project also studies how to effectively integrate modular robots programs into the teaching and learning of introductory Algebra.

Publications from this project:

• Huang, W., White, T., Sutherland, S. & Cheng, H. (2015). Mathematical meaning-making through robot motion. In T. Bartell & K. Bieda (Eds.), Proceedings of the 37th Conference of the North-American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME-NA). East Lansing, MI: PME-NA.
• Sutherland, S., White, T., Huang, J., & Cheng, H. (2014). Making mathematical meaning through robot enactment of mathematical constructs. Proceedings of the International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) 2014, pp. 1609-1610. Boulder, CO.