Video Vs. Text Feedback

This study was an initial exploration into replacing textual ASSISTments feedback with matched content videos. It related to Rich Mayer's Multimedia principles.

Text Feedback

Video Feedback

Students received text hints as usual. Here is an example of a problem, with the feedback provided as four levels of scaffolding. In order to see the feedback, students needed to either answer incorrectly at each step, or ask that the problem be broken down into steps. Click on any of the images below to enlarge.

Main Problem:

Students received an isomorphic question with matched content video feedback. For these videos, the researcher simply read the scripts found in the control while explaining the problem on a whiteboard. The videos were uploaded to YouTube and embedded within each scaffolding level. Click on any of the images below to view the videos.

Main Problem:

Scaffolding level 1:

Scaffolding level 2:

Scaffolding level 3:

Scaffolding level 4 (bottom out):

Click here to try the problem set

Clicking on the link above will allow you to experience this study from the student's perspective. You will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions that differ in the linear order of six Pythagorean Theorem questions. Three of these questions feature text feedback, while three feature video feedback. Follow the link multiple times or refresh the preview page to experience each condition.

Ostrow, K. & Heffernan, N. T. (2014). Testing the Multimedia Principle in the Real World: A Comparison of Video vs. Text Feedback in Authentic Middle School Math Assignments. The International Educational Data Mining Conference. Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://tiny.cc/ostrow2014-EDM. All the low level data and materials are publicly available here http://tiny.cc/ostrow2014Materials.