An Interactive Graphics Tool to Support Student Learning of Matrix-based 2D Transformation Calculations
Eurographics Irish Chapter, Matt Smith · 2005
“Learning by doing” (for example see [MAT-88]) is an informal way to describe a constructivist philosophy to the design of educational tools. This paper presents the current state of a project to develop an interactive graphical tool “LEG” to support computer graphics students learning the use of matrix arithmetic to calculate two-dimensional geometric transformations. The tool supports a simple form of “cognitive scaffolding” [VYG-78] by providing button and argument interaction (scale by 20 degrees clockwise) as well as provide direct editing of a transformation matrix, thus students can “use” the tool to understand , then “investigate and describe” the matrices generated by when different transformation buttons and arguments are entered, then finally “manipulate the tool free of (button-based) assistance” by directly creating an editing matrices and applying them to the animated graphical object.