Learning quantum properties with informationally redundant external representations: An eye-tracking study

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Rexigel, Eva, Qerimi, Linda, Bley, Jonas, Malone, Sarah, Küchemann, Stefan, Kuhn, Jochen
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Rexigel, Eva
Qerimi, Linda
Bley, Jonas
Malone, Sarah
Küchemann, Stefan
Kuhn, Jochen
author_facet Rexigel, Eva
Qerimi, Linda
Bley, Jonas
Malone, Sarah
Küchemann, Stefan
Kuhn, Jochen
contents Recent research indicates that the use of multiple external representations MERs has the potential to support learning, especially in complex scientific areas, such as quantum physics. In particular, the provision of informationally redundant external representations can have advantageous effects on learning outcomes. This is of special relevance for quantum education, where various external representations are available and their effective use is recognised as crucial to student learning. However, research on the effects of informationally redundant external representations in quantum learning is limited. The present study aims to contribute to the development of effective learning materials by investigating the effects of learning with informationally redundant external representations on students' learning of quantum physics. Using a between-subjects design, 113 students were randomly assigned to one of four learning conditions. The control group learnt with a traditional multimedia learning unit on the behaviour of a single photon in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The three intervention groups received redundant essential information in the Dirac formalism, the Bloch sphere, or both. The use of eye tracking enabled insight into the learning process depending on the external representations provided. While the results indicate no effect of the study condition on learning outcomes (content knowledge and cognitive load), the analysis of visual behaviour reveals decreased learning efficiency with the addition of the Bloch sphere to the multimedia learning unit. The results are discussed based on current insight in learning with MERs. The study emphasises the need for careful instructional design to balance the associated cognitive load when learning with informationally redundant external representations.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_07389
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Learning quantum properties with informationally redundant external representations: An eye-tracking study
Rexigel, Eva
Qerimi, Linda
Bley, Jonas
Malone, Sarah
Küchemann, Stefan
Kuhn, Jochen
Physics Education
Recent research indicates that the use of multiple external representations MERs has the potential to support learning, especially in complex scientific areas, such as quantum physics. In particular, the provision of informationally redundant external representations can have advantageous effects on learning outcomes. This is of special relevance for quantum education, where various external representations are available and their effective use is recognised as crucial to student learning. However, research on the effects of informationally redundant external representations in quantum learning is limited. The present study aims to contribute to the development of effective learning materials by investigating the effects of learning with informationally redundant external representations on students' learning of quantum physics. Using a between-subjects design, 113 students were randomly assigned to one of four learning conditions. The control group learnt with a traditional multimedia learning unit on the behaviour of a single photon in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The three intervention groups received redundant essential information in the Dirac formalism, the Bloch sphere, or both. The use of eye tracking enabled insight into the learning process depending on the external representations provided. While the results indicate no effect of the study condition on learning outcomes (content knowledge and cognitive load), the analysis of visual behaviour reveals decreased learning efficiency with the addition of the Bloch sphere to the multimedia learning unit. The results are discussed based on current insight in learning with MERs. The study emphasises the need for careful instructional design to balance the associated cognitive load when learning with informationally redundant external representations.
title Learning quantum properties with informationally redundant external representations: An eye-tracking study
topic Physics Education
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.07389