The effectiveness of physical and virtual manipulatives on learning and motivation in structural engineering

• Published in: Journal of engineering education (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 111; no. 4; pp. 813 - 851
• Main Authors: Justo, Enrique, Delgado, Antonio, Llorente‐Cejudo, Carmen, Aguilar, Rocio, Cabero‐Almenara, Julio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-10-2022; Wiley; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Achievement Gains; Attention; Between-subjects design; Classrooms; College Students; Colleges & universities; Computer Assisted Instruction; Computer Simulation; computer‐based instruction; Concept Formation; conceptual learning; Design of experiments; Electronic Learning; Engineering Education; Gender Differences; Instructional materials; Learning; Learning Motivation; Manipulative Materials; Motivation; physical manipulatives; Research Design; Self Esteem; Structural engineering; Student Motivation; Students; virtual manipulatives
• ISSN: 1069-4730; 2168-9830
• DOI: 10.1002/jee.20482

Background
Recent advances in technology and computer simulation have expanded the use of virtual manipulatives in engineering education. However, especially in disciplines in which tactile concepts (e.g., force) are included, it has been claimed that learning could be compromised by substituting physical materials with computer simulations.
Purpose
This study examines the comparative effect of physical and virtual materials on students' conceptual understanding and motivation to learn structural concepts with manipulatives.
Method
The study followed a between‐subjects design involving 209 university students and seven instructors. We used a pretest/posttest quasi‐experimental design with a purposely developed conceptual test to measure students' understanding of basic structural engineering concepts. Motivation and its components (attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction) were assessed with Keller's Instructional Materials Motivation Survey.
Results
Our results revealed that the physical and virtual conditions were equally effective in promoting students' understanding of basic structural engineering concepts in a classroom setting. We also found that the students were more motivated to learn through the use of physical materials than with virtual ones. This difference was especially significant in the attention dimension. Finally, we found that male students showed more confidence than female students when using physical manipulatives but not when using virtual ones.
Conclusions
The findings from this study associate the benefits of using physical materials with an increase in motivation rather than with superior learning gains. In particular, engineering educators seeking to enhance students' attention should consider adopting physical manipulatives in their classrooms, although they must be aware of the potential sex differences that could be caused by their use.