The impact of an interactive visualization and simulation tool on learning quantum physics: Results of an eye-tracking study

TL;DR

This study investigates how experts and novices use an interactive quantum physics simulation, revealing key visual strategies and informing better instructional design for quantum technology education.

Contribution

It compares eye movements of experts and novices using a simulation tool, identifying visual attention patterns that influence learning success in quantum physics.

Findings

Visual attention on graphs is crucial for problem-solving.

Redundant numerical info is often ignored by users.

Total dwell time predicts task performance.

Abstract

Employing scientific practices to obtain and use information is one of the central facets of next generation science standards. Especially in quantum technology education, the ability to employ such practices is an essential skill to foster both academic success and technological development. In order to help educators design effective instructions, the comparison between novices' and experts' eye movements allows the identification of efficient information extraction and integration strategies. In this work, we compare the gaze behavior of experts and novices while solving problems in quantum physics using an interactive simulation tool, Quantum Composer, which displays information via multiple external representations (numerical values, equations, graphs). During two reasoning tasks, we found that metarepresentational competences were crucial for successful engagement with the simulation tool. The analysis of the gaze behavior revealed that visual attention on a graph plays a major role and redundant numerical information is ignored. Furthermore, the total dwell time on relevant and irrelevant areas is predictive for the score in the second task. Therefore, the results demonstrate which difficulties novices encounter when using simulation tools and provides insights for how to design effective instructions in quantum technology education guided by experts' gaze behavior.