PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ FLOW, ANXIETY AND COGNITIVE LOAD LEVELS IN ROBOTICS PROGRAMMING

The aim of this study was to compare pre-service teachers’ flow experience, anxiety and cognitive loads in the process of robotics programming, based on whether they were experienced or inexperienced. The sample of the study consisted of 19 pre-service teachers (16 females, 3 males) from different specialties. Within the scope of the study, pre-service teachers carried out five robotics programming activities. Two of these activities were grouped as beginner level and three as experience-requiring activities. The Flow Experience Scale and the Cognitive Load Scale were used as data collection tools in the study. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used in the analysis of the data. It was found that, in general, the flow experience and cognitive load levels of the pre-service teachers were high, and their anxiety levels were low in the process of robotics programming. It was also found that the pre-service teachers’ level of flow experience was significantly higher, and their cognitive loads were lower if they were experienced. Anxiety levels were not significantly different in the either case. The results were discussed, and suggestions were presented in order to guide future studies