The impact of interactive visual simulations on learning statistics

In previous studies non-interactive visual simulations in learning tasks have improved learners' conceptual understanding of statistical principles. To explore the impact of interactive visual simulations on conceptual understanding of statistical principles, an online tutorial where students could either manipulate or only observe changes of statistical graphs was developed. Overall, the tutorial supports students in learning statistical concepts immediately after working with the tutorial and two weeks after. In addition, if students could manipulate the graphs on their own, they were faster. Implications and opportunities for further investigations of interactive simulations are discussed.