MIRAI-EDU-D: A Software-Free Discrete-Electronics Educational Robot for Tangible STEAM Formative Assessment

This article presents MIRAI-EDU-D, a software-free adaptive educational micro-robot designed to support tangible formative assessment in STEAM activities for primary and secondary education. The proposal addresses two current tensions: the expansion of educational robotics as a resource for active learning and computational thinking, and the need for school technologies that are transparent, repairable, inclusive and respectful of children’s privacy. Using an educational-technological design methodology, the system is specified through a discrete-electronics architecture composed of reflectance sensors, LM339 comparators, NE555 timers, CD4510 CMOS up/down counters, CD4028/CD4511 decoders and CD4000 logic gates. The robot reads binary cards placed by students, updates a physical memory of conceptual mastery and activates differentiated feedback: reinforcement, hint, remediation, advanced challenge or teacher alert. The design results show the alignment between electronic operation, formative assessment principles and STEAM competences by integrating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics in a manipulable learning experience. A validation protocol is also proposed, including pretest/posttest measures, observation rubrics, technical logs and teacher acceptance analysis. MIRAI-EDU-D is framed as a low-cost, auditable and privacy-preserving educational robotics alternative for schools with limited infrastructure, although classroom effectiveness must be tested through controlled pilot studies before making empirical claims about learning impact and long-term transfer outcomes.