Eye Tracking Methods For Improving Engineering Graphics Instruction

The tracking of eye movements is a powerful tool used to understand the process of visual search. Recording and analyzing eye movements allow researchers to better understand how individuals make use of visual information. While eye movement research has been conducted for over 70 years, recent technological breakthroughs have made this equipment accessible to a wider range of researchers. Eye movements can be tracked across paper-based materials, computer screens, or any plane defined in 3-D space. The focus of this presentation is how eye tracking methods can be used in the design of instructional materials, particularly materials that make use of graphics for instruction. Past research on engineering graphics instructional materials presented at ASEE and similar conferences has focused on outcomes such as test scores and satisfaction ratings. Eye tracking data can build on these data sources by providing a deeper understanding of “why” a student may have or have not performed well using a particular set of instructional materials. Background will be given on the basic technologies currently employed and typical measures used to evaluate perceptual and cognitive processes involved with visualization. Next, it will be shown how this information can be used to evaluate instructional materials and provide guidance for redesign. Particular focus will be on the evaluation of graphic elements used in instruction. Finally, examples will be given of how these methodologies have been used to evaluate instructional materials in engineering and preengineering instruction.