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Looking Inside the Wires: Understanding Museum Visitor Learning with an Augmented Circuit Exhibit

Published: 02 May 2017 Publication History

Abstract

Understanding electrical circuits can be difficult for novices of all ages. In this paper, we describe a science museum exhibit that enables visitors to make circuits on an interactive tabletop and observe a simulation of electrons flowing through the circuit. Our goal is to use multiple representations to help convey basic concepts of current and resistance. To study visitor interaction and learning, we tested the design at a popular science museum with 60 parent-child dyads in three conditions: a control condition with no electron simulation; a condition with the simulation displayed alongside the circuit on the same screen; and an augmented reality condition, with the simulation displayed on a tablet that acts as a lens to see into the circuit. Our findings show that children did significantly better on a post-test in both experimental conditions, with children performing best in the AR condition. However, analysis of session videos shows unexpected parent-child collaboration in the AR condition.

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    cover image ACM Conferences
    CHI '17: Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
    May 2017
    7138 pages
    ISBN:9781450346559
    DOI:10.1145/3025453
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    Published: 02 May 2017

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    Author Tags

    1. agent-based modeling
    2. augmented reality
    3. design
    4. electrical circuits
    5. interactive surfaces
    6. multiple representations
    7. museum learning.

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    • (2024)RHINO-VR Experience: Teaching Mobile Robotics Concepts in an Interactive Museum Exhibit2024 33rd IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (ROMAN)10.1109/RO-MAN60168.2024.10731357(1272-1278)Online publication date: 26-Aug-2024
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    • (2024)Digital Tools in Informal Science Education Sites: A Systematic Literature ReviewJournal of Science Education and Technology10.1007/s10956-024-10105-z33:4(569-589)Online publication date: 6-Mar-2024
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