Title
Visual behavior, flow and achievement in game-based learning.
Abstract
This study utilized eye-tracking technology to explore the differences between high- and low-conceptual-comprehension players' visual behaviors and game flows in game-based learning (GBL). A total of 22 university students participated in this study and their eye movements while playing a physics game were recorded by an eye tracker. Along with eye-tracking measures, the participants' prior knowledge, flow and comprehension test scores were collected. Multiple data analysis methods including MWU tests, correlation analyses, heat map analyses and lag sequential analyses were employed in this study. The results indicated that the players in the high comprehension group demonstrated an efficient text-reading strategy and better metacognitive controls of visual attention during game plays; while those in the low comprehension group could have some difficulties in decoding the conceptual representations. In addition, the players with higher comprehension expressed a higher level of game flow in two aspects: the sense of control and concentration. Furthermore, the percentages of fixation for the main task and prompt messages were associated with the players' game flow experience, especially the time distortion feeling. This study successfully applied eye-tracking technology to find learners' visual behavioral patterns in GBL environment and confirmed the flow construct for GBL, which may provide some insights for the learning mechanism of GBL. Future studies have been suggested in this paper. Eye-tracking successfully uncovers visual patterns of different achievers in GBL.Higher achievers showed controls of visual attention for multi-tasking in GBL.Higher achievers showed a more efficient text-reading strategy in GBL.Higher achievers experienced higher flow of control and concentration in GBL.Percentage of fixation may reflect the flow experience of time-distortion in GBL.
Year
DOI
Venue
2016
10.1016/j.compedu.2016.03.011
Computers & Education
Keywords
Field
DocType
Eye-tracking,Game-based learning,Visual patterns,Visual attention,Flow,Conceptual learning
Social psychology,Behavioral pattern,Concept learning,Cognitive psychology,Psychology,Metacognition,Eye movement,Eye tracking,Pedagogy,Lag,Comprehension,Feeling
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
98
C
0360-1315
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.41
0
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Meng-Jung Tsai126419.70
Liju Huang230.41
Huei-Tse Hou353342.62
Chung-Yuan Hsu4183.78
Guo-Li Chiou5172.81