Designing Pedagogically Effective Haptic Systems for Learning: A Review

Abstract

Haptic technology enables users to utilize their sense of touch while engaging with a virtual representation of objects in a simulated environment. It is a bidirectional technology in that it facilitates the interaction between the user and these virtual representations by allowing them to apply force onto one another, which is analogous to our real-world interactions with physical objects as action-reaction pairs. The sense of touch is a powerful and innate learning tool that we readily employ starting from very early ages as infants even before learning to walk. Therefore, it is natural that incorporating haptic technology into pedagogical methods has been an active research area as it has significant potential to enrich the learning experience and provide an engaging environment for learners. In this paper, we reviewed studies from various disciplines that incorporate haptics to increase the quality of teaching and learning while emphasizing the underlying cognitive theories. In that direction, we describe two of the most common cognitive theories, the Cognitive Load and Embodied Cognition theories, that developers use to support haptic technology’s implications and use in learning environments. We then explore the effects of haptic design on its current applicability following these two theories. Finally, we summarize the best design practices to develop haptic simulations for learning, address gaps in current research, and propose new research directions.

Do our hands see what our eyes see? Investigating spatial and haptic abilities

“…29 Haptic technology increases positive learning outcomes across a wide range of disciplines when applied in pedagogy for sighted individuals. 30 For example, retention performance, motivation measures, and cognitive scores often improved following the utilization of haptic technology. 31 In medicine, the use of haptic simulations provides medical students with a realistic surgical training experience, 32 helped veterinary students better understand bovine abdominal anatomy and three-dimensional (3D) visualization 32 to better achieve early competences 33 and enhanced performance during laparoscopic surgery simulations by decreasing cognitive loads.…”

“…30,39 This is achieved by making the learning material interesting and engaging by improving the student's ability to personally connect with it, cognitively and physically, during construct mental representations of abstract concepts based on concrete physical experiences. 30,39 Moreover, haptic feedback decreases the effects of cognitive load on learners, positively affecting learning capacity. 34 However, one study using a haptic dissection of a digital model of a hand and wrist in anatomy education illustrated that the addition of haptic feedback was not necessarily beneficial to student learning when comparing a dissection simulator with and without haptic feedback.…”

“…Specifically, haptics promote social inclusion and learning in visually impaired and blind users and should be used to display graphical content relevant to many scholarly disciplines including mathematics and geometry 29 . Haptic technology increases positive learning outcomes across a wide range of disciplines when applied in pedagogy for sighted individuals 30 . For example, retention performance, motivation measures, and cognitive scores often improved following the utilization of haptic technology 31 .…”

“…Additionally, in situations where surgeons are required to identify anatomical structures using their hands, therefore HA, haptic cues are suggested to inform regarding shape 38 . It is suggested that more immersive haptic experiences, lead to better learning outcomes in STEM disciplines 30,39 . This is achieved by making the learning material interesting and engaging by improving the student's ability to personally connect with it, cognitively and physically, during construct mental representations of abstract concepts based on concrete physical experiences 30,39 .…”

“…It is suggested that more immersive haptic experiences, lead to better learning outcomes in STEM disciplines 30,39 . This is achieved by making the learning material interesting and engaging by improving the student's ability to personally connect with it, cognitively and physically, during construct mental representations of abstract concepts based on concrete physical experiences 30,39 . Moreover, haptic feedback decreases the effects of cognitive load on learners, positively affecting learning capacity 34 .…”