Title: Measuring the Effect of User Experience and Engagement on Learning Using Interactive Simulations

Brianna Tomlinson

Human-Centered Computing PhD Student

School of Interactive Computing

College of Computing

Georgia Institute of Technology

Date: Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018

Time: 2-4pm ET (12pm MT)

Location: 217, J. S. Coon Building

Committee:

Dr. Bruce Walker (Advisor, School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Dr. Betsy DiSalvo (School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Dr. Maribeth Coleman (School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Dr. Marion Usselman (Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology)

Dr. Emily Moore (Department of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder)

Abstract:

Schools use a variety of interactive software to support education, especially in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) classes. Educational technologies provide a way to support 3D interaction and exploration for complex STEM topics, but many of them have not explored high-fidelity multimodal interactions. Previous studies have explored the best methods to measure emotional, cognitive, and physical engagement, but these methods have not been applied to fully understand the impact of multimodal interactive simulations on student learning. Technologies like Augmented and Virtual Reality can provide a novel means for supporting interactive simulations for student learning. However, the full impact of these new systems and modalities on learning and engagement is unclear.

The proposed work will investigate a multimodal interactive simulation for astronomy education. The study will discuss the design and evaluation of the sonification model for the solar system. It will also explore a variety of tools for measuring and comparing user experience, engagement, affect, and learning, and compare these evaluations with more typical qualitative analyses. Other factors such as science anxiety, motivation, and technology experience will be evaluated to determine how well they can predict a student’s ease of use and comfort in using newer technologies.