Attention guidance during example study via the model’s eye movements.

Abstract

Van Gog, T., Jarodzka, H., Scheiter, K., Gerjets, P., & Paas, F. (2009). Attention guidance during example study via the model’s eye movements. Computers in Human Behavior, 25, 785-791.Research has shown that guiding students’ attention guides their thought, and that attention can be communicated via eye movements. Therefore, this study investigates whether such a procedure can further enhance the effectiveness of examples in which a solution procedure is demonstrated to students by a (expert) model. Students’ attention was guided by showing them not only the model’s problem-solving actions on the computer screen, but also the model’s eye movements while doing so. Interestingly, results show that combined with a verbal description of the thought process, this form of attention guidance had detrimental effects on learning. Consequences for further research on attention guidance and instructional design are discussed