DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2016.1146563

Summary
A systematic literature review of robotic construction kits (RCK) is provided in this article. The paper aims to determine the role of RCKs in P-12 learning in the STEM disciplines. The authors state that the RCKs can be used directly to learn about robotics and in a more general approach to understand concepts of target domain from the computational perspective. The direct first-order application of RCKs as computational manipulatives is presented by the means of scheme which defines the relationships of robotics learning progression, application of problem-solving, and gains in programming and engineering design. The authors provide description of second-order application approach to use RCK to learn physics, biology, engineering design. They also discuss the limitations and practical implications related to number of participants, curriculum design, environment. Finally, the authors emphasize that the RCKs are powerful technology in education to develop computational thinking.

Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The authors describe how robotic construction kits (RCK) can be used in teaching and learning of STEM disciplines for students of various age from kindergarten to high school. They state that RCKs enable students to improve their knowledge in engineering and computer programming, develop computational thinking skills including causal and conditional reasoning, problem solving, systems understanding and understanding of multivariate phenomena. Therefore, students develop skills such as formulating problem as an input, organizing and analyzing data, identifying solution, algorithmic thinking. These skills are highly valuable in order to employ computers for solving complex systems. RCKs can also be applied in teaching process of other science disciplines (e.g., biology, physics) to model complex systems. The authors conclude that development of these skills highly depend on students’ age and that older children can improve their systems understanding which may be transferred to other science disciplines.

Point of Strength
The point of strength of this article is a provided review on how robotic construction kits can be used in teaching and learning robotics, engineering, programming and as a tool in science or mathematics content.