Exploration and Learning

 

Natalie Brezack, Graduate Student

How do children learn through exploration and instruction in a computer game?

Children encounter lots of problems in daily life that they need to solve. Sometimes, they can figure out solutions on their own, but sometimes instructions can help them learn. In this study, 6-year-olds are invited to play an online computer game where children figure out new rules.

Part 1: In this version of the study, some children get the chance to explore before receiving instructions about the rules. Other children receive instructionswithout exploring. Another group of children explores the problem without instructions. We’re curious which type of learning will help children figure out the rules to the game.

Part 2: In a new version of this study, we’re continuing to test how exploration and instruction help children learn in the same computer game. This time, children will participate in one of four versions of the game: exploration before instruction, exploration after instruction, exploration alone, or instruction alone. We want to know which version of the game will help children learn the rules best!

Part 3: Adult participants are invited to play the same game to see which version helps them learn.

Part 4: We are also curious about whether the way children originally played the problem-solving game would support children’s memory for the rules they learned in the game. We’re asking families who originally participated in the problem-solving game to participate in a follow-up memory study. In this study, we are asking children what they remember about the game they originally played.