Prior research has produced mixed results regarding the usefulness of interactivity in multimedia learning. In this study, participants learned to solve part of a Rubik's Cube using either a tutorial with interactive features or a passive (video-based) tutorial. Participants with low spatial ability benefited more from interactivity than those with high ability, though no performance main effects were found between the tutorials. Targeted use of interactivity could be effective in engaging students and help them learn.
Located in the School of Psychology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Problem Solving and Educational Technology (PSET) Lab brings together a diverse group of faculty and students interested in an equally diverse range of topics. Students in the PSET Lab, under the direction of Dr. Richard Catrambone, are currently examining a range of problem solving and human-computer interaction issues.
