Mobile2D-3D-RoboticSim: A robotic platform for computational thinking assessment in STEM and STEAM education

Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) is crucial for developing essential skills in today’s society. A key issue for researchers in the Education and Behavioral Sciences (EBS) fields is to assess the evolution of Computational Thinking (CT) in learners through the use of educational robotics, which is a powerful tool that enhances learning by allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. In this article, we propose a 2D-3D virtual and physical robotic platform for STEM/STEAM education, enabling users to interact with a low-cost line-following educational robotic platform, equipped with an onboard computer, sensors, and actuators. The platform is user-programmable and integrates the ROS operating system to define the robot’s movement and path, as well as to visualize the robot’s movement in real-time. The platform is also accessible to educators and the general public for exploratory and pedagogical use. We report results related to the application of the competent Computational Thinking Test (cCTt) instrument to a small group of students, which may be of particular relevance to the Education and Behavioral Sciences (EBS) community for validating the acquisition of CT skills through the proposed platform for larger learner groups.