Predicting Student Learning using Log Data from Interactive Simulations on Climate Change

Interactive simulations are commonly used tools in technology enhanced education. Simulations can be a powerful tool for allowing students to engage in inquiry, especially in science disciplines. They can help students develop an understanding of complex science phenomena in which multiple variables are at play. Developing models for complex domains, like climate science, is important for learning. Equally important, though, is understanding how students use these simulations. Finding use patterns that lead to learning will allow us to develop better guidance for students who struggle to extract the useful information from the simulation. In this study, we generate features from action log data collected while students interacted with simulations on climate change. We seek to understand what types of features are important for student learning by using regression models to map features onto learning outcomes.