The Role of Gesture in Solving Spatial Problems in STEM

• In Event: Poster Session 18
  In Poster Session: Gestures, Models, and Explanations in STEM Learning

Abstract

Gestural activity is an important component of teaching and learning in STEM disciplines. Gestures are most often observed in social settings where two or more interlocutors are engaged in natural conversation. However, empirical investigations suggest that gestures also play a role in individual cognition. We conducted two experiments that investigated the functional role of gestures as a strategy for solving translation problems in organic chemistry. Gestured-instructions did not promote gesture-use as a strategy. Removing instructional diagrams from view did promote gesture use. Students who did gesture did not perform better than those who did not. However, students who received gestured instructions altered the perspective of their drawn molecule, corresponding with the perspective of the instructor. Implications are discussed.

Authors

• Matthew E. Lira, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Mike Stieff, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Stephanie Athene Scopelitis, University of Washington

• Lianne Schroeder, University of Illinois at Chicago