**7. Discussion**

The research study results added to the existing body of knowledge in the area of STEM education. Previous research studies did not make a direct connection between STEM education, social robots, and metacognition. Different connections between STEM related skills were linked to metacognitive thinking, but it was not directly linked in a research study. FlipGrid® videos provide researchers an opportunity to explore students reflecting-upon their experiences.

Metacognitive thinking allows learners to transfer and adapt to different situations because learners have a strong understanding of their own knowledge [23]. Metacognition is similar to one looking into a toy kaleidoscope. As one turns or looks into the mirrors and reflections then the perspective changes. The word kaleidoscope is Greek, and the word means "beautiful form to see [24]." When a person is able to self-reflect then the thinking of the person transforms into a beautiful new understanding. The research study involved exploring the responses of students

when using STEM challenges and social robots. The themes that emerged were connected the EbD loop and metacognition. When everything comes together then it can be explained by a new model called Redcay's STEM-oscope Model (RSM).

A triangle is located inside of a kaleidoscope. Therefore, RSM has a triangle with the three sides labeled to correspond with the three stages of a STEM challenge: (1) beginning-define, (2) middle-design, (3) end-optimize. The five themes that emerged from the research study fit within the three stages of STEM education. The curiosity and real-world connection theme is connected to the beginning-define stage. The social metacognition and concrete to abstract themes are connected to the middle-design stage. The problem-solving theme is connected to the endoptimize stage (see **Figure 1**).
