Exploring the effect of a robotics laboratory on computational thinking skills in primary school children using the Bebras tasks

This paper presents preliminary findings from a project-based learning laboratory of robotics aimed at stimulating computational thinking processes in primary school students. The laboratory was carried out within the context of an ongoing project funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research. The aim of the project is to activate a national network for the enhancement of students' technological and scientific skills in school and extra-school settings. A group of 51 students, engaged in the robotics laboratory, were compared to a comparison group of 32 students in order to evaluate the impact of programming WeDo robotics artefacts on the development of computational thinking skills. Overall, the results showed that programming robotics artefacts may exert positive effects on children's acquisition of computational thinking skills.