Using Robots and Animals as Motivational Tools in ICT Courses

This paper presents the use of robots to increase students' engagement in nonrobotic IT courses. It describes the experience of using robots in a course on computer architecture of the Computer Engineering program at the Universidad de Leon (Spain). It also states that including competitions contribute to students' engagement. Finally, we show how the use of natural and unpredictable elements (living animals) in the environment makes these competitions more challenging. Preliminary analysis of this experience is also discussed based on a group of 67 students. We assessed the students' attendance, their final marks, and also the subjective impression about lectures through ad hoc questionnaires.