Classrooms are dynamically impacted by the dual forces of technological evolution and student expectation. This is especially critical in K–12 environments as millennials age out of the school system and are replaced by Generation Z.

McKinsey & Company notes that Gen Z is composed of digital natives who prioritize unique identity and are rooted in the “search for the truth.” 

Student engagement is changing, driven by digital natives looking to combine organic social interaction with science, technology, engineering and math discovery. Cracking the K–12 connection code requires a new approach, one that combines active-learning pedagogy with robotics in the classroom to deliver an interactive, immersive learning experience. 

MORE FROM EDTECH: See how education robotics companies are invigorating K–12 learning.

New Learning Styles Offer Different Types of Learning

Stand-and-deliver discourse won’t do it for Gen Z students. Access to social technologies combined with an increasing recognition of the need for unstructured play and flexible learning environments has prompted pedagogical shifts that help students engage, rather than simply observe.

Here are a few emerging approaches:

• Project-Based Learning: PBL focuses on giving students real-world challenges that help them develop problem-solving skills. After a basic introduction to concepts or events, students work in groups to engage with what they’ve learned. Tech integration — from laptops and mobile apps to robots — aligns with students’ everyday experience and helps them connect with critical concepts.
• 360-Degree Learning: As noted by Building Design and Construction, schools are now “emphasizing practical, hands-on experience and personalized learning” by creating new learning environments that include outdoor classrooms, gardens and natural play spaces. Here, the goal is to combine kids’ need for active play with the development of social and STEM skills by adopting a comprehensive learning approach.

Robotics and Digital Tools Engage Students on a New Level 

Pedagogy forms one pillar of student engagement, but zeroing in on Gen Z learning also means leaning into emerging technological trends, including:

• Artificial Intelligence: New AI solutions can help teachers automate key classroom processes, integrate advanced technologies, acclimate students to technological change, discover key learning trends and help identify personalized learning potential. 
• Gamification: According to MDR Education, gamification is now a top K–12 tech trend. Here, the focus is on integrating game mechanics — which mirror Gen Z’s day-to-day experience of on-demand mobile applications — to “introduce an element of fun into lessons, leading to more participatory, and ultimately, more memorable classroom experiences.” 

MORE FROM EDTECH: Here’s what it takes to introduce robots into the classroom.

The STEM Robots Revolution Hits K–12

What does this mean for robotics in the classroom? In practice, robots help bridge pedagogy and technology, offering physical manifestations of key educational concepts.

As noted by Built In, robots like Robin — an almost 2-foot-tall, friendly looking humanoid — are helping toddlers learn new languages by playing simple color identification and movement games. Here, social interaction and STEM education go hand in hand; kids experience robots at a personal, physical level and unwittingly expand their knowledge base.