PlotWise: Exploring Instruction-Practice Alignment in Interactive Visualization Learning

Abstract

Scatterplots are widely used to teach and communicate relationships between quantitative variables. However, students often misunderstand key concepts such as correlation strength and regression slope, frequently conflating the two. We present PlotWise, a web-based interactive scatterplot learning environment developed through collaboration between visualization researchers and learning scientists. We report a preliminary 2 × 2 between-subjects online study (N= 80), crossing instruction type (PlotWise-integrated vs. static) with practice type (PlotWise interactive vs. static) to examine effects on conceptual learning and situational interest. Results suggest that PlotWise may be most useful as an interactive learning environment when students have first seen the system used to explain the underlying concepts during instruction. However, broader conceptual learning and interest measures did not show consistent condition differences, so we interpret the findings as exploratory rather than conclusive evidence of learning gains. This poster uses PlotWise to examine how interactive visualization practice should be connected to instruction, scaffolding, and assessment in statistics learning.