PERS 201-Dr. Spires

Spring 2020

Name

Reading Response number?

Date

Cook, S. W., Friedman, H. S., Duggan, K. A., Cui, J., & Popescu, V. (2017). Hand gesture and mathematics learning: lessons from an Avatar. Cognitive science, 41(2), 518-535.In this article, the authors discuss how gesturing influence math learning. In this research article, the authors use avatars to test the effect of gesturing on math learning in children. They use a pedagogical agent developed from a computer as a simulation to control verbal and non-verbal behavior. The independent variables included gesture and no gesture with the dependent variable being the scores before and after the experiment. The form of communication used during this study was the mediator variable. Gesturing resulted in better math scores than the no gesture condition.

This article had me believe that gesturing has a similar effect in learning math as it has in a variety of content, paradigms, and education using an analogy. Hand gesturing, in particular, is the most effective way of learning math. It is evident that other non-verbal behaviors do not have the beneficial effect hand gesturing has.

References

Cook, S. W., Friedman, H. S., Duggan, K. A., Cui, J., & Popescu, V. (2017). Hand gesture and mathematics learning: lessons from an Avatar. Cognitive science, 41(2), 518-535.