Robot programming intervention for promoting spatial relations, mental rotation and visual memory of kindergarten children
Einat Brainin, Adina Shamir, Sigal Eden
Abstract
The study’s purpose was to examine the contribution of a programmable robot to an intervention program for promoting spatial ability (spatial relations, visual-memory, mental rotation) of preschool children. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to three intervention groups: programmable-robot-based intervention, traditional intervention, control group. Spatial ability was examined pre- and post-10 intervention sessions. Findings indicate that the children exposed to the programmable-robot intervention displayed significantly higher spatial-relations and mental-rotation improvement compared with the traditional intervention and control group. However, the robot did not contribute to visual-memory. The study emphasizes the importance of finding innovative ways to promote spatial ability in young children.