Using of Arduino assisted robotics coding activities in science teaching on 5th grade secondary school

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Arduino assisted robotics coding applications on students' usage of technology and attitudes towards science lesson in science teaching on 5th grade secondary school and to determine students' opinions about the applications. In the study, the mixed research method, in which quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis processes took place together, was used. The study group of the research consisted of 11 students studying in the 5th grade of a secondary school in a private college in the Marmaris district of Muğla province in the 2018-2019 academic year. The study was carried out in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) club lesson for 11 weeks, contains two weeks of data collection, four weeks of coding training and five weeks of coding robotics activities. Within the scope of this course, students carried out various activities and experiments in accordance with the constructivist approach regarding the subjects (measurement of force and friction, matter and change, diffusion of light, human and environment, electrical circuit elements) in the science curriculum. In order to collect data in the research, "Science Course Attitude Scale", "Attitude Scale Towards Technology Use" and "Semi-Structured Interview Form" were used. In the analysis of the quantitative data obtained, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, one of the non-parametric tests, was used to compare the pre and post test mean scores for the measurements between dependent groups. In addition, the effect size was calculated for this test and was found to be 0.84. Descriptive analysis method was used in the analysis of qualitative data. Frequency and percentage values related to these descriptions were given. Also, direct student views are included to emphasize striking examples. As a result of the research, it was determined that Arduino assisted robotics coding activities increased students' attitudes towards science lesson and usage of technology in lessons. In addition, it was also interesting to determine that secondary school 5th grade students stated that they want the technology to be used in learning scientific information, it is fun to do activities with technologies such as robotics coding and that they can solve various problems with robotics coding applications in daily life.