Research Keywords
vectors, interactive media, math education, cognition based design
Project Description
Studies show the positive impact of interacting with physical (concrete) entities in learning Science and Mathematics. However, Mathematics has many entities which are abstract making it difficult for students to handle them. One such mathematical entity with wide applications in physics is vector and operations performed on it.
The system, we have designed if to allow students
- to interact with the abstract geometrical notations of vectors
- to perform the operations of resolution into rectangular components using trigonometric principles moving into the space of algebra
- to perform the operations of addition, which is closely related to the notion of resolution
Interactivity is a key idea behind the design of the tool. The tool has undergone preliminary testing with pre-college students in India with a promise shown in changing their understanding of the vector-related concepts and their approach in reasoning shifting to a modeling based one, which is central to doing science and math. We are now exploring further extensions of this tool into other areas of physics and mathematics and possible integrations in the classroom.
Link to simulation
Contributors
Durgaprasad Karnam, Harshit Agrawal, Sanjay Chandrasekharan
Selected Publications
- Karnam, D., Agrawal, H., Mishra, D., & Chandrasekharan, S. (2016). Interactive Vectors for Model-based Reasoning. In Technology Enhanced Learning of Thinking Skills, ICCE. Mumbai: IIT Bombay.