Not Affordance, but Engagement: Benefits From Using a Learning Tool

• In Event: Digital Technology in Education From an International Perspective

Abstract

The studies that compared students’ learning performance through working with physical and virtual tools have shown inconsistent patterns, even under the same type of interventions. The present study tries to explain why different studies showed different patterns from three major frameworks. We found there was no learning gain difference from a different type of tool use. What is critical in learning gain was how knowledge was represented by students and how deeply students engaged in learning activities. A physical tool provides its unique affordance. On the other hand, a virtual tool provides a student with a chance to construct richer knowledge representation only when the virtual tool filled out the knowledge gap which was not possible through a physical tool use.

Authors

• Seokmin Kang, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

• Pierre Mingtsan Lu, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

• Hye-Sook Park, Honam University