1 Visualizing the Processes of Change in Learner Beliefs

Current approaches to understanding the processes of change in learners ’ beliefs about complex concepts are incomplete and inadequate. The use of concept maps, for example, fails to capture the strength of the links between causal factors and outcomes, the extent to which the links are supported by evidence (or the extent to which the learners cross-examine, test, and evaluate the merits of presented evidence). Specifically, current approaches are inadequate for describing the way link strengths are affected by evidentiary support (or specific processes used to cross-examine and test evidence), the patterns in which link strengths change over time, how these patterns of change ultimately affect learners ’ beliefs, and to what extent each change observed in an individual’s belief structure converges toward a target model and/or the collective beliefs of a group of learners. To address these issues, this paper presents a preliminary set of software tools and techniques used to visualize the processes of change in learners ’ beliefs by combining the methods of flexible belief networks and sequential analysis. Pilot data was collected and analyzed with the presented tools and technique to illustrate their application, their limitations, and to identify areas for future study and development