Tracking the Course of Mathematical Learning

该项目的目标是提高我们跟踪学生如何学习解决数学问题的能力，以及如何在智能辅导系统的背景下更好地指导数学。这个研究项目的基本认知模型是安德森的ACT-R。研究人员将着眼于眼动追踪和脑成像的潜力，以改善对学习的追踪。它将侧重于一种基于计算机的代数家教，这种家教目前在高中使用，正在调整用于中学。过去的研究表明，基于眼球运动的教学干预可以通过发现学生的问题和消除他们困惑的本质来改善学习。目前的研究将侧重于开发一种基于网络的实用摄像头的干预措施，这种摄像头可能会部署在教室里。我们的目标是设计一个系统，能够对个人的学习过程做出反应。他们提出了三个项目线：第一个项目涉及功能磁共振脑成像，将识别数学学习关键方面的大脑关联（例如，当学生简单地犯了计算错误时，是否有不同的激活模式，而不是当他们感到困惑时）。第二个项目将在教学互动中进行脑成像研究。研究团队将尝试确认在第一行中确定的兴趣区域将推广到与导师一起学习。他们也会尝试随机辅导，根据大脑信号来进行教学决策。第三个项目将重点推进眼动追踪方法，使其能够通过网络摄像头用于课堂教学。

The goal of this project is to improve our ability to track how students learn to solve mathematical problems and how better to instruct mathematics in the context of intelligent tutoring systems. The underlying model of cognition informing the research program is Anderson's ACT-R. The researchers will look both at the potential of eye tracking and of brain imaging to improve the tracking of learning. It will focus on a computer-based algebra tutor that is currently in use in high school and is being adapted for use in middle schools. Past research has shown that instructional interventions based on eye movements can improve learning by detecting when students are having problems and by disambiguating the nature of their confusions. The current research will focus on developing interventions based on using a practical web-based camera that might be deployed in the classroom. The goal is to devise a system that will respond to the course of learning in the individual. They propose three project lines: The first project, involving fMRI brain imaging, will identity brain correlates of critical aspects of mathematics learning (e.g., whether there is a different pattern of activiation when students have simply made a computational error as opposed to when are they confused). The second project will conduct brain imaging studies during tutorial interactions. The research team will attempt to confirm that the Regions of Interest identified in the first line will generalize to learning with the tutor. They will also attempt contingent tutoring in which they branch instructional decisions depending on the brain signal. The third project will focus on advancing eye tracking methodology to the point where it can be used for instruction in the classroom by means of a web-cam.