Abstract: In this we focus on critical thinking activities conducted in an online environment and interaction markers based on the data collected from those activities. The work is based on the ENACT framework. We conducted an empirical study to understand the clusters of critical thinkers based on Performance and interactional marker values of the participants (n=37). The highlights the definitions of the interaction markers and conducts an clustering analysis of the of Critical Thinking patterns that emerged. The results show two clusters with similar critical thinking outcome performance but different action patterns. We discuss the need of further empirical evidence relating learning effect on the actions and Critical Thinking.

ENaCT is a framework for the design and analysis of critical thinking environments based on 4E cognition perspectives. In this paper, we describe a web-based critical thinking environment designed to implementœ the ENaCT framework. When users perform a critical thinking task in the environment their interaction logs are captured. We report on a pilot study with undergraduate participants and analyse how participants used the affordances in the environment as they performed the critical thinking task. One case of task-related behaviours (high activity) is elaborated to highlight the current possibilities of the system and discuss implications for redesign.

A 2×2 between-subjects experiment (a) investigated and compared the instructional effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) versus video as media for teaching scientific procedural knowledge, and (b) examined the efficacy of enactment as a generative learning strategy in combination with the respective instructional media. A total of 117 high school students (74 females) were randomly distributed across four instructional groups - VR and enactment, video and enactment, only VR, and only video. Outcome measures included declarative knowledge, procedural knowledge, knowledge transfer, and subjective ratings of perceived enjoyment. Results indicated that there were no main effects or interactions for the outcomes of declarative knowledge or transfer. However, there was a significant interaction between media and method for the outcome of procedural knowledge with the VR and enactment group having the highest performance. Furthermore, media also seemed to have a significant effect on student perceived enjoyment, indicating that the groups enjoyed the VR simulation significantly more than the video. The results deepen our understanding of how we learn with immersive technology, as well as suggest important implications for implementing VR in schools.