Problems and Educational Responses in the Age of Digital Technologies

Abstract

According to recent research [1, 2], the latest generation technology causes disturbing forms of dependence on children, young people and adolescents, as well as increasing concentration and abstinence problems with obvious cognitive consequences and school behaviors. Moreover, subtle forms of solipsism would affect our young people; young people would try to solve such solipsism in virtual relationships that are consumed predominantly in social networks.

Our thesis is that educative and cognitive training of new technologies implies knowledge of the thinking that supports its use, which in turn is the basis of a young person’s creative action and effective learning. We have identified the operational strategies in Educational Robotics. This article represents a reflection based on the work done with the teachers who participated in the course on Educational Robotics held at the Summer School organized by the Epistemology Laboratory of Euresis Training at the University of Ferrara and by the Robocup jr Italia State Network in Stresa (Italy) in August Of 2016. Chapters 1 and 3 are assigned to Prof. Anita Gramigna and Chaps. 2 and 4 to Dr. Poletti.