Robotics competitions and science classrooms

This paper looks at the distinctions between science classrooms and the robotics competition described in the article “Examining the mediation of power in a collaborative community: engaging in informal science as authentic practice” written by Anton Puvirajah, Geeta Verma and Horace Webb. Using the framework of “productive disciplinary engagement” and discussing each principle in turn, the article argues that in order to bring the advantages of informal learning environments into regular classrooms we especially need to address student interest through task design and to change curricular requirements to agree with changing educational values.