Learning Newtonian Physics through Programming Robot Experiments

Novel technology has been applied to improve students’ learning abilities in different disciplines. The research this field is still finding suitable methodologies, tools, and evaluation mechanisms devise frameworks with high impact on performance. This article describes an instructional method perform Newtonian physics experiments by programming a mobile robot. Such allow the learners design, implement visualize concepts, thus using robot as cognitive tool or mindtool. An accurate assessment of students gain, involving 29 high-school students, shows that proposed provided significant improvements understanding first Newton’s law, second Newton law superposition principle. gain measured through Force Concept Inventory questionnaire. From study, we can state knowledge about physics, even without giving specific lectures subject much shorter lecture plan respect traditional lectures.