Eye Movement Modeling Examples

Eye movement modeling examples are instructional videos in which a model (this can be an expert, a teacher, or a peer student) demonstrates and usually (though not necessarily) verbally explains how to perform a task. In contrast to regular video examples, however, students do not only see the model’s actions but also a visualization of the model’s eye movements superimposed on the video (i.e., the student sees where the model is looking at any given moment, indicated, for instance, by means of a circle or dot). Seeing where the model is looking at any given moment can serve two functions: 1) it synchronizes the students’ gaze with the model’s gaze, which can aid the comprehension of the model’s demonstration and explanation, and 2) it can give students insight into the perceptual or cognitive strategies the model uses to perform the task, which would otherwise not be observable for them. In this chapter, evidence on the effectiveness of eye movement modeling examples for attaining these two goals is reviewed, followed by a critical discussion and avenues for future research on this topic.