Question: Because of the unique and powerful learning experiences they provide, should discovery-based learning using technology construction tools similar to Lego Robotics be a required component of the K-8 curriculum?

(For purposes of this discussion, assume adequate monetary and professional development resources are made available to fund the mandate.

Summary of an online discussion among graduate students in a class on Emergent Educational Technologies.

Here is a Word document with the full text of the discussion. Names have been removed. (18 pages!)

One of the main themes in the on line discussion of the above question had to do with the word "required". The graduate students, many of whom work as teachers, felt that there are already too many requirements for teachers and students to add another. 

The students did feel there were many advantages to incorporating Lego Robotics into the curriculum in some way. The reasons they cited include the constructivist nature of the Robotics activity, the unique nature of the learning experience, and the way that this learning activity puts the children in charge of their own learning rather than depending on the teacher.

Some of the negatives discussed were how the current emphasis on standardized testing (MCAS) left little room in the overall curriculum for additional options, the learning curve for teachers and a potential resistance from many teachers who are threatened by technology or weary of the time it takes to incorporate technical elements into their teaching. Even though the question above presumed adequate financial resources, the lack of such resources in the real world was also cited as a potential negative.