Learner´s Activity During the Understanding of an Interactive Animated Mechanical System: eye Tracking Investigation

In two experiments we examined how learners understand an animation about a mechanical complex three pulleys system. In the first experiment were tested the animation user-control and the orientation of the attention of the learners. The second experiment tested the potential effect of adding signaling cues like arrows on the comprehension of the mechanical device. In the two experimental designs eye tracking was registered before a comprehension test. The first experiment showed a positive effect of a full controllable animation and also of a verbal explicit orientation of attention on the understanding of the pulley system. The eye tracking data indicated that the learners process strongly the areas of the animations where a great amount of motion is involved along the causal chain of events. The second experiment did not show any effect of adding implicit signaling cues.