A Study of the Invention Coach: A Computer-Based Environment That Supports Transfer of STEM Concepts

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Research on Innovations in Learning Technologies

Abstract

The Invention Coach is the first computerized tutor that provides inquiry-style adaptive guidance to students as they work through Invention, an open-ended problem-solving activity that promotes transfer of deep structures in STEM domains. In this paper, we discuss the key components of the Invention Coach’s design, which draws upon empirical studies of human teachers and prior research on the cognitive mechanisms associated with Invention. We report on a classroom study aimed at testing whether greater guidance during Invention activities leads to increased learning and transfer, and whether our designed guidance is efficacious. We present preliminary findings suggesting that our designed guidance is successful in enhancing transfer of deep domain structures to novel situations.

Authors

• Helena Connolly, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Catherine Chase, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Marianna Lamnina, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Vincent Aleven, Carnegie Mellon University