Pedatronics : Robotic toys as a source to evoke young girls’ technological interest

• This paper presents some results within Pedatronics; a fusion between pedagogics and mechatronics. Our research interest is to study what emerges in the play with robotic toys. Field-experimental studies of 67 year old children’s purposeless play with robotic toys created a self-developmental sphere, as well as evoked young girl’s technological interest. Both girls and boys prolonged and intensified their interest according to the amount of gadgets involved. The results disclose a learning potential, indicating the importance to develop strategies at an early stage in order to encourage girls to choose technological and engineering educations. The study recommend engineers and toy designers, in cooperation with children, to move towards ’Integrated Play Systems’. Due to an ethological method, the results differ from other studies of children’s play with technological advanced artefacts. © 2002 IEEE

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Lärande (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Learning (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Artificial intelligence

Engineering research

Learning systems

Mechatronics

Robotics

Technology

Ethological reading

Gender identity

Integrated play systems

Pedatronics

Robotic toys

Engineering education

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