Abstract
We examined the preference of undergraduate students for a live or a virtual rat when learning about concepts of operant conditioning. Students were provided with the opportunity to directly compare a virtual and a live rat in a supplemental exercise for Learning courses. We argue that the design of teaching exercises should involve a systematic examination of student preferences between different available techniques. In general, students preferred a live rat over a virtual rat when learning concepts in operant conditioning, specifically a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement. Students also listed advantages and disadvantages of using a virtual rat versus a live rat. These aspects evaluated by students are compared and contrasted with those provided by experts who have reviewed these learning exercises.
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Recommended Citation
Elcoro, Mirari and Trundle, Melissa
(2013)
"Student Preferences for Live Versus Virtual Rats in a Learning Course,"
International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning:
Vol. 7:
No.
1, Article 16.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2013.070116
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