A robotic competition: a classroom experience in a vocational school

Many researchers have commented on the use of technological resources in education, in particular in the robotic field, but consistent data that assess how robots affect motivation and learning in the vocational education programs are missing from the literature. We present an educational experience over one year in a vocational high school class forming electronic technicians. Motivation and pressure are considered two factors impacting vocational high school student learning. The introduction of educational robot project and then of the robot competition showed to be effective in improving learning efficiency in different fields as a consequence of enhancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Results are encouraging, and should affirm the idea that the didactic project "educational robot" is a well facilitated learning environment of different disciplines, where the motivation to learn increases, the achievements of both individual and class are positive.