The Use of Oculography in Evaluating Learners' Knowledge of Information Technology

Abstract

This article considers the possibility of using an eye tracker to determine the knowledge level of learners when writing programming code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. As a rule, the basis for evaluating the effectiveness of training are the results of current monitoring. Both quantitative and qualitative indicators of learners' work are considered. The quantitative indicators are represented mainly by conventional numerical values: time spent, points, percentages. The qualitative indicators show the ability of learners to perform the assigned tasks. However, it is not always possible to identify the causes that led the learner to the final result. The use of oculography made it possible to observe both the reaction of the learners to the results of their work and the sequence of actions towards the achievement of the corresponding result. The Tobii EyeX eye tracker, which is supported by special Tobii Pro Lab software, was used to record and collect data during the research. The results of the study showed that when carrying out the task of writing code based on the textual representation of the task, the number and duration of saccades were higher for the learners with low knowledge proficiency than for the learners with sufficient knowledge proficiency. This shows the lack of strategy in the first case, as well as the presence of search for the purpose of solving the problem.