Training Education Professionals in Educational Robotics: Findings from the sfera.BOT Project in Italian Schools

Educational robotics is increasingly recognized as a promising tool for innovation in teaching and learning. However, its successful integration in schools often depends on the availability of targeted professional development programs that support educators with no prior experience in this field. This study addresses this gap by presenting and evaluating the development and implementation of a training program specifically designed to equip educators with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to integrate robotics into early and primary education. The program, sfera.BOT, was designed as part of a regional educational initiative in Basilicata, Italy, and was conceived within T.I. Abilito, a national initiative that promotes educational inclusion; within this broader framework, however, the training pathway examined here was addressed to educators working with all children in mainstream early childhood and primary classrooms, rather than exclusively with children with disabilities. It followed a blended learning model and was grounded in hands-on exploration, collaborative planning, and weekly mentoring sessions. The research employed a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of four female educators from diverse backgrounds who completed the training. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, a knowledge assessment questionnaire, and field observations. The findings reveal that participants acquired significant technical and pedagogical competencies, shifted from initial insecurity to confident implementation, and began to see themselves as potential trainers and change agents within their schools. Given the small, purposefully selected sample and the specific regional context, these findings are context-rich rather than statistically generalizable. The study underscores how well-structured, practical, and context-aware training can foster continuing professional development in the field of educational robotics.