A research proposal for mathematics education: Innovative design thinking using eye tracking technology

Understanding the experience and revealing the perception of users towards the products takes the attraction of many researchers, which increases the popularity of the “design thinking” for different research disciplines. In order to serve the product to satisfy needs of target users more efficiently and improve the product and user interaction, the design of the product by means of research field, content, process, methodology has also gained importance in mathematics education. In this study, comprehensive literature research on the role of design in mathematics education and use of eye tracking technology is given in detail. It is suggested to create alternative design categories for a special user group as mathematically gifted students while achieving mathematical tasks related to the fraction concept. Five different models of mathematical tasks expressed as written symbols, manipulative models, oral language, picture and real-world situations were designed for mathematically gifted students whose differentiated characteristics and needs require to be searched. Since proposing effective and differentiated content compatible with their needs is crucial, their reactions through gaze behaviors towards different contents were proposed to be recorded with the use of eye tracking technology, which generates quantitative data. In addition to benefiting from the advantageous position of eye tracking technology in providing methodological efficiency for instructional design studies, the data regarding personal evaluations of the students as qualitative judgments were also suggested to be obtained from the participants simultaneously. This proposal highlights the importance of systematical understanding and revealing the hidden interests of gifted students. It also has a potential to provide an initial guide for both design and mathematics education researchers concerning how an optimum mathematical task should be designed and how eye tracking technology can generate a roadmap in the instructional process.