An Exploratory Analysis of Confusion Among Students Using Newton’s Playground

Abstract

We investigated the interplay between confusion and in-game behavior among students using Newton’s Playground (NP), a computer game for physics. We gathered data from 48 public high school students in the Philippines. Upon analyzing quantitative field observations and interaction logs generated by NP, we found that confusion among students was negatively correlated with earning a gold badge (solving a problem with objects under par), positively correlated with earning a silver badge (solving a problem with objects over par), and positively correlated with stacking (drawing numerous small objects to reach the objective), a form of gaming the system.