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Developing a Systems Thinking Coding Scheme through dialogic responses to a Spatial Reasoning VR Game

Croxton, DeVaughn
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1680622207565371

Abstract Details

2023, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Educational Studies.
Systems thinking, empirically derived from Systems Theory (Ludwig von Bertalanffy, 1950) involves the dynamic application of organizing, analyzing, and understanding information to solve complex problems. It is a cognitive process that requires a person to understand the links between components, the importance of each individual component, and the meaning of the whole as opposed to just the sum of its parts. Many subject matters (e.g., geometry, reading comprehension) require students to learn by considering knowledge as a complex system of knowledge. The current study proposes a coding scheme to help measure Systems Thinking levels of students who participated in a Virtual Reality Game-Based Learning intervention. Data came from Dr. Irina Kuznetcova’s dissertation project (2022). A total of 169 students across 11 classrooms in three middle schools in a mid-western city in the United States participated in the study. The intervention took place in an elective STEM class. The participants in the experimental condition (n=96, 6 classrooms) played the intervention game during 4 sessions over the course of 2 weeks, while participants in the control condition (n=73, 5 classrooms) engaged in typical class activities. For the current study, seven audio recordings of students’ gameplay from the experimental condition (n=14, 3 classrooms) were analyzed to observe indicators of systems thinking levels based on their conversations during gameplay. Six levels of systems thinking were identified in the context of game-based learning: recognizing, understanding, applying, option consideration, sequence of events, and generalizable principles. Overall, students generated more low levels of systems thinking than high levels of systems thinking. Correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between low levels of systems thinking and the duration of time students spent playing the game (F = .647, p < 0.05), but systems thinking was not correlated with visuospatial performance or visuospatial self-efficacy. By exploring the correlations between systems thinking, visuospatial skills, and game-based learning, my study informs future research directions on ways to improve STEM learning. Leveraging technology, especially game-based technology, in modern learning environments may support the fostering of systems thinking. This study contributes to current systems thinking research by proposing a comprehensive coding scheme used for assessing systems thinking across multiple subject matters.
Dr. Michael Glassman (Committee Member)
Dr. Tzu-Jung Lin (Advisor)
53 p.
Educational Psychology
Systems thinking; Game-based learning; visuospatial skills; coding scheme; educational psychology; VR; games; videogames; DeVaughn; Croxton; Kuznetcova; Bond

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Croxton, D. (2023). Developing a Systems Thinking Coding Scheme through dialogic responses to a Spatial Reasoning VR Game [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1680622207565371

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Croxton, DeVaughn. Developing a Systems Thinking Coding Scheme through dialogic responses to a Spatial Reasoning VR Game . 2023. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1680622207565371.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Croxton, DeVaughn. "Developing a Systems Thinking Coding Scheme through dialogic responses to a Spatial Reasoning VR Game ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1680622207565371

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1680622207565371
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.