Learners’ Strategies in Interactive Sorting Tasks

Abstract

Using examples and non-examples is a common technique to demonstrate concepts’ characteristics and boundaries. Based on their properties, certain objects are accepted as examples or non-examples intuitively, while others are accepted or neglected non-intuitively. This 2*2 classification is powerful when designing technology-enhanced learning experiences in which feedback could be provided in real-time. That is, feedback could be based not only on the correctness of student response, but also on the specifics of the objects with which they were engaged. Following this framework, we developed an interactive sorting task that aims at strengthening elementary school students’ understanding of reflective symmetry. We studied learners’ interaction with the objects presented to them, and their success. Our study included 29 elementary school students (ages 9 to 12) from both Israel and Germany. We used screen recording to code participants’ shape-movements, and defined quantitative measures of these movements. Our findings support the need for designing feedback that takes into consideration object’s properties and students’ behavior.