Exploring the multi-touch simulation of learning performance, mental models and potential behavior clusters in science concepts learning

Abstract

This study aims to explore whether the application of human-computer interaction gestures into the learning of scientific concepts will have different effects on cognitive concepts and mental models. We developed a digital simulation based on gesture simulation and took the basic knowledge of optics as a teaching unit. Then we selected 28 students in the sixth grade of an elementary school and used cluster analysis to explore the influence of multi-touch simulation on knowledge acquisition and mental models. The results showed that students with high behavioral performance are able to use touch gestures to understand and apply optical concepts more accurately than students with low behavioral performance, which indicates that students with high behavioral performance/high learning outcomes can achieve improved cognitive concepts and mental model construction, which has great research significance for the application of science education.