How Kinetically-Held Gestures Support Collaborative Problem Solving in Physics

Abstract

Embodied forms of communication like gesture are essential for problem solving, but we know little about how they are used in group interactions.Drawing on ethnomethodology and conversation analysis (EMCA), we examine how undergraduate physics students use the temporality of gesture to orchestrate productive interactions: Using kinetically-held (frozen in place) gestures, students (1) recruit attention, (2) mobilize responses, (3) weather interruptions, and (4) facilitate extended consideration of elaborated and clarified ideas.