Developing children’s tridimensional ordinality through control systems and robots

This project aims to develop children’s tridimensional ordinality. Control systems and robots will be employed to nurture such skills in primary students ranging from 6 to 11 years old. The project team consists of both psychologists and engineers, which will facilitate observation of the influence of STEM toys/experiments in dealing with mathematical anxiety. The project hopes to help children enjoy mathematics and be inspired to consider STEM careers in the future.

Organizer:

Erivelton Nepomuceno, Department of Electronic Engineering, Center for Ocean Energy Research, Maynooth University, Ireland

Sponsoring IFAC Body:

Ireland NMO

Description:

This multidisciplinary project presents two strands:

  • Supporting Educators and Teachers in Fostering Core Numeracy Skills and Cultivating Positive Attitudes Towards Math in Children
  • Introducing Children to the World of Control Theory and Robotics

Among basic skills, the understanding of ordinality, the ability to place numbers in sequence, represents a key concept in children’s early numeracy development. It can be assessed through a number line task involving placing numbers on an analog scale. For instance, positioning the number 70 on a number line spanning from 0 to 100. Several studies have demonstrated that game-based interventions involving the number line are effective in fostering more complex math skills. Furthermore, game-based interventions hold the potential to improve emotional aspects related to math, such as motivation, self-efficacy, and math anxiety (MA). MA has pervasive effects on children’s math development, including reduced math achievement and avoidance of math-related activities. MA’s impact extends into adulthood, with highly math-anxious individuals avoiding career paths with higher loads of math, including STEM careers.

Anticipated project outcomes:

  • Encouragement of STEM careers
  • Maximizing control community engagement and inclusion
  • Increasing control engineering influence
  • Creation of evidence-based intervention

Engagement possibilities include the Science Week at Maynooth University and selected primary school activities.