Mireille BETRANCOURT

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Why did learners in collaborative situation
benefit more from animations than individual
learners?

• Mireille BETRANCOURT
• Cyril REBETEZ

Pierre DILLENBOURG Mirweis SANGIN
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Research context
Learning from text information means constructing
a mental model
Static graphics facilitate the activity of
elaborating a mental model from text information
The case of understanding dynamic phenomena
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Animation supports learning
Visualizes spatial changes over time
Lowe, 2004
Supports the construction of a runnable mental
model
Mayer, 2001
Text-picture complementarity at the semiotic
level
Levin, Anglin et Carney, 1989
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Type of animation matters
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Does animation actually help?
Animation challenges cognitive processing
capacities
Perception of motion
Attention paid to relevant features
Memory load
Conception of a functional MM
Lowe, 2003 Schnotz, 2002 Tversky,
Bauer-Morrison Betrancourt, 2002
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Animation and collaboration
Interactive animation
Static display
Schnotz, Boeckeler and Gzrondziel (1999)
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Hypotheses
Continuous animation vs. series of static
snaphots
Continuous animation facilitates understanding
insofar as it depicts transitions between states.
Pair of learners vs. single learner
Collaboration increases extraneous cognitive load
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Methods
Participants
160 university students, novices in the domain
Factorial Design
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Procedure
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Results (1) Reflection - discussion times
Format no diff. Collaboration plt.01
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Results (2) scores to the retention test
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Results (3) comprehension
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Results (4) cognitive load
Format NS Collaboration plt.05
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Summary
A continuous animation increased retention
performance compared to a series of static frames.
Regarding comprehension, only learners in pairs
benefited from animation
Learners in pairs reported lower mental effort
than single.
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Further research
Additional data under analysis content of verbal
interaction, and free recall performance
Control study under analysis on verbalization
instruction in single situation
Study in progress effect of level of
interactivity and investigation of individual
differences