Principled animation design improves comprehension of complex dynamics
Category
Journal Article
Authors
Lowe, R.K., Boucheix, J.M.
Year
2016
Title
Principled animation design improves comprehension of complex dynamics
Journal / book / conference
Learning and Instruction
Abstract
Learners can have difficulty in decomposing conventionally designed animations to obtain raw material suitable for building
high quality mental models. A composition approach to designing animations based on the Animation Processing
Model was developed as a principled alternative to prevailing approaches. Outcomes from studying novel and conventional
animation designs (independent variable) were compared with respect to mental model quality, knowledge of local
kinematics, and capacity to transfer (dependent variables). Study of a compositional animation that presented material
in a contiguous fashion resulted in higher quality mental models of a piano mechanism than non-contiguous or control
(conventional) versions but no significant differences regarding local kinematics or transfer. Eye fixation data indicated
that the compositional animation led to superior mental models because it particularly fostered relational processing. Implications
for future research and the design of educational animations are discussed.
Issue
45
Pages
72-84
Keywords
Animation design Complexity Animation processing model Mental model acquisition Composition approach