CLT & PS Exam

CSE 2506 - WashU

Tinkering Definition

Playing around with a system or problem, trying different things, making incremental changes, exploring without a fixed plan.

When is Tinkering Applied?

When users or learners are curious, not afraid of failure, or when the environment encourages experimentation.

How to boost tinkering

Lower the cost of failure (make it safe to try), encourage sandbox-style environments, give feedback quickly so people can see results of their tinkering, provide hints rather than full solutions.

Risk Aversion Definition

A tendency to avoid uncertainty or potentially negative outcomes; preferring safer, more predictable options.

When is risk aversion applied?

When the stakes are high (real or perceived), or when people lack confidence, or when failure is penalized.

How to adapt to or reduce risk aversion?

Provide reassurance, reduce perceived costs, frame tasks in terms of gains rather than losses, scaffold risk in smaller steps, design low-stakes opportunities to fail and try again.

Cognitive walkthrough definition

a task-based expert review method where evaluators step through a user’s task flow, from the perspective of a new user, and ask a set of questions at each step to identify potential learnability problems.

Question 1 of Cognitive Walkthroughs

Will the user try to achieve the effect of the action?

Question 2 or Cognitive Walkthroughs

Will they notice that the correct action is available?

Question 3 of Cognitive Walkthroughs

Will they understand that this actions leads to the required outcome? (in other words, perhaps the right button is visible, but will users understand the label and will they know to engage with it?)

Question 4 of Cognitive Walkthroughs

If they do the action, will they receive feedback that they did the right thing?

As you walk through each step of CW…

Which facet of problem-solving might the user fall back on?

Intrinsic Load

The cognitive load inherent to the task itself — the complexity and interactivity of the elements that must be processed together. 

Extraneous Load

Load imposed by the way information or tasks are presented, but unrelated to the actual learning goal. Essentially, extra external stimuli not related to the learning goal.

Germane Load

The mental effort directed toward learning (consolidating to LTM) — schema construction, integrating new information, and building mental models.

Model of Human Memory definition

A theoretical model that describes human memory as composed of three separate stores: sensory memory, short-term memory (STM, or working memory), and long-term memory (LTM).

Sensory Memory Definition

• Very short duration (milliseconds to seconds).

• Holds raw sensory input (visual, auditory, etc.).

• Most information is not attended to and is lost; attended information may go to STM.

STM/WM definition

• Limited capacity.

• Holds information temporarily and manipulates it.

• Encoding (through rehearsal or processing) can transfer items to LTM.

LTM definition

• More or less permanent store. Capacity is very large. Wikipedia

• Encoded information from STM is stored here and can be retrieved later.

CW Step by Step

1. Make a list of the correct/preferred sequence of steps for a selected task.

2. Go through each step and consider whether a prospective user at each extreme of a facet would take that step. a. b. c. Would they have the right goal? Would they recognize what UI element would help with that goal? Would they understand what happened?

3. If you find a problem (e.g. you don’t think the user would take that step or would hesitate), note the problem and the reason (referencing a facet). Then assume the magic interface fairy has fixed it and go on to the next step assuming that your user has had smooth sailing up until this point. Record all of these in a table with the step on each line and a column for each facet side (see let_ta_modify example

motivation definition

the internal desire or drive to engage with computer-reelated tasks, whether for learning, productivity, or recreation

computer self efficacy definition

the belief in one’s ability to successfully use computers and related technologies to accomplish tasks

behavioral traits of Computer self-efficacy

confidence in navigating software and hardware, willing to troubleshoot issues independently, etcl.

motivation behavioral traits

willing to persist through technological challenges (not willing to give up during a game of Set)

information processing definition

the cognitive ability to absorb, interpret, and apply information from digital sources effectively. in other words, how quickly a person can learn and understand a concept given to them

information processing behavioral traits

efficient at scanning and synthesizing online content.

uses digital tools to organize and analyze data