A mixed reality learning simulation where students use their bodies to understand the variables in the physics equation for circular motion. Embodied learning made in conjunction with SMALLab Learning.
About Centripetal Force
The following research was funded by an NSF DRK-12 mechanism (1020367). The team researched how learning gains are affected by amount of embodiment in a lesson, and whether learning was also contingent on type of educational platform.
Six learning scenarios were created to address two misconceptions associated with circular motion and centripetal force (i.e., objects have a circular impetus when released and that the amount of force is proportional to the radius of the circle).
The first factor in the experiment was the learning platform, with three levels:
- SMALLab – large scale “mixed reality” immersive environment containing both digital and hands-on components (see Figure 5)
- Interactive whiteboard (IWB) with a tracking pen (see Figures 3 and 4)
- Desktop computer with a mouse
The second factor was the degree of embodiment, with two levels :
- low
- high
This resulted in a 3 X 2 design.
Figures 3 – 5 represent the high embodied versions of the lessons because students are actually manipulating or moving the real swinging bob or a virtual version of the bob. In the low embodied conditions students merely tapped on digital icons to either start or stop simulations.
Pretests, immediate posttests, and one-week followup tests were administered to Psychology 101 students who were randomly to assigned to one of the six conditions Regardless of condition, participants made significant gains in learning from pretest to posttest. There were no significant main effects or interactions due to platform.
However, we found that the level of embodiment in the lesson predicted learning gains on the delayed test. These significant differences where seen on the generative items of the test. Half the test items (n = 14) were generative and required participants to draw vectors, answer with constructed text, etc.
The take home message is that when principles of embodiment – being active and generative – are designed into multimedia lessons students retain the content for longer. We remind instructors that sometimes the differences associated with learning in an embodied manner are not readily evident immediately after instruction, but only show up later. Manuscript currently under revise and resubmit.
Learning Goals
Upon completion of this game, players will be able to:
- Understand the three variables in the Centripetal Force equation
- Understand the relationship between the variables
- The misconceptions associated with:
- How a bob will travel at the point of release, and
- The inversely proportional relationship between radius and centripetal force.
Results
All six groups demonstrated significant gains in learning by posttest, F(1, 99) = 459.89, p < .001.Interestingly, the participants in the High Embodied conditions RETAINED information longer.There was a statistically significant interaction between embodiment and time on generative items between the invariant post and followup test. F (1, 62) = 4.83, p = .03.
Disclaimer
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No1020367. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
