Building Brains for Robots: A Hands-On Approach to Learning Neuroscience in the Classroom

Abstract

As the relevance of neuroscience in education grows, effective methods for teaching this complex subject in high school classrooms remain elusive. Integrating classroom experiments with brain-based robots offers a promising solution. This paper presents a structured curriculum designed around the use of camera-equipped mobile robots which enables students to construct and explore artificial neural networks. Through this hands-on approach, students engage directly with core concepts in neuroscience, learning to model spiking neural networks, decision-making processes in the basal ganglia, and principles of learning and memory. The curriculum not only makes challenging neuroscience concepts accessible and engaging but also demonstrates significant improvements in students' understanding and self-efficacy. By detailing the curriculum's development, implementation, and educational outcomes, this study outlines a scalable model for incorporating advanced scientific topics into secondary education, paving the way for a deeper student understanding of both theoretical neuroscience and its practical applications.