EDUCATIONAL ROBOTICS TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS

Abstract

Strengthening technological skills in the education sector is a fundamental need in the context of digital transformation, especially where access to technology remains limited. In this regard, the present study aimed to determine the effect of educational robotics on the development of technological skills in primary school students. A quantitative approach with a single-group, pre-experimental design was used, employing pretest and posttest measurements in a census sample of 110 students from a public primary school in the department of Puno, Peru. The intervention consisted of implementing an educational robotics program based on practical, collaborative activities and basic programming, using a validated and reliable instrument. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests, specifically the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed a significant increase in the overall level of technological skills, rising from a mean of 9.05 in the pretest to 14.65 in the posttest (p < 0.05), as well as improvements in all dimensions, with no significant differences according to gender. It is concluded that educational robotics constitutes an effective, inclusive, and relevant pedagogical strategy for strengthening technological skills in education, making it a valid alternative for its systematic incorporation into the school curriculum.