Procedural and conceptual confusion in a discovery-based digital learning environment

Abstract

Confusion has been found beneficial to learning in specific conditions. However, the roles of procedural and conceptual confusion in such conditions are still unknown. This paper presents a preliminary study investigating the relationship between procedural and conceptual confusion and their impact on learning processes and outcomes in a non-challenging online task. Participants completed an online predict- observe-explain task on star lifecycles, which included a star simulation. One group watched a video tutorial on how to use the simulation prior to the task (n=22), while the control group did not (n=22). The tutorial group reported higher confidence and lower challenge in using the simulation compared to the control group. The tutorial group also reported higher confidence towards the concept being learnt than the control group, although no differences were found on concept challenge. However, these differences on conceptual and procedural confidence and challenge did not impact time spent on the simulation, use of self-regulatory skills or learning outcomes. Implications for future studies are discussed.