Student Choices when Learning with Computer Simulations

We examine student choices while using PhET computer simulations (sims) to learn physics content. In interviews, students were given questions from the Force Concept Inventory (FCI)(1) and were allowed to choose from 12 computer simulations in order to answer these questions. We investigate students' choices when answering FCI questions with sims. We find that while students' initially choose sims that match problem situations at a surface level, deeper connections may be noticed by students later on. These results inform us on how people may choose education resources when learning on their own.