Validation of Teachers’ Competencies for Applying Robotics in Science Education

This research aims to identify the required competencies needed to integrate robotics activities into science education, particularly due to the lack of comprehensive models that address the necessary competencies for teachers to effectively teach science with robotics. A list of competencies needed by middle school teachers to integrate robotics activities into science classrooms was developed in the following steps. First, an initial list of competencies was developed based on a literature review in the field of robotics education that focused on various aspects of the TPACK model and open observations during a teachers’ development program. Second, experts and experienced robotics teachers were interviewed regarded the competencies needed to develop and implement robotics activities suitable for science education, which resulted in an updated list of competencies and adding additional competencies in the context of 21st-century skills. Third, Fifty-five teachers rated the items on a scale from 1-not necessary to 5-very necessary. Factor analysis was performed and the items were examined concerning the rating they received. Understanding how robotics can be coordinated with pedagogy and scientific knowledge for effective teaching, the present study adapted a TPACK instrument for use of robotics to teach classroom science and reformulated it with 21st-century skills.