Peer Review

Motion Demos

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Dec 9, 2017 by Psychology

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Overview:: The Motion Demos learning object is found on the home page for Professor George Mather (University of Lincoln, UK), which also includes his research and publications as well as programming. Most useful for faculty is the Motion Demos section providing a series of simulation demos for different visual perceptual illusions. These can be used to augment learning for topics concerning sensation and perception that could be found in introductory Psychology or Biopsychology courses, or to explore the material in more depth in advanced sensation and perception, optics, or neuroscience courses. The website describes the illusions in an easy to understand manner and also links to peer reviewed research articles that discuss each in more academic and technical depth.
Type of Material:: Simulation
Recommended Uses:: At the introductory level, these simulations would be best used individually, as a means of supplementing lectures on visual perception. At the advanced level, these simulations and their attached articles would provide good individual homework assignments for reading and interpreting scientific papers. At the advanced level, these simulations and their attached articles could also provide good material for group discussions or journal article presentations in a classroom setting.
Technical Requirements:: Users will need Internet access (stated: Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer). QuickTime is an option if the browsers do not work.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Students will learn about the perception of motion, including popular illusions and practical applications of the material. While not strictly displayed for teaching and learning purposes, the learner will be able to supplement any material on sensation, perception, vision, and optics with genuine examples that illustrate fundamental principles of those disciplines.
Target Student Population:: • Students in undergraduate through graduate programs that include motion perception will benefit from this site. Many demonstrations work well in the classroom, but students can study the material further on their own. • Target for using the simulations as examples for core principles: Introductory Psychology, Biopsychology, or Neuroscience students. • Target for using simulations and attached articles as discussion based material: Upper level or advanced Psychology, Sensation and Perception, Neuroscience, or Optics students
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: • No prerequisites would be necessary to learn about the visual illusions and how they work. An Introductory Psychology or a Research Methods course would be needed to discuss the simulations and attached articles in detail. • Note: Students sensitive to motion sickness may struggle with some of the demonstrations.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: • The site includes the classic motion demonstrations along with many others. • The website author does an excellent job explaining each of the simulations and how users can learn more about the visual illusions in depth. The instructions are straightforward, as users simply have to know what links to click. Each visual illusion contains a high quality GIF, in addition to a thorough explanation of what users are viewing. Additional information is clearly linked by the inclusion of the major articles from which the simulations originate. The simulations can be viewed as small GIFs, or users can expand them to take up the whole screen, and have the ability to pause or replay the simulations.
Concerns:: • The simulations are not high definition.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: • If matched with a course or syllabus, each of the simulations would provide a valuable example of important material for a course in psychology, sensation and perception, optics, or neuroscience. • The site includes many different types of motion demonstrations, allowing students and faculty to elaborate on different parts of the vision system (including interpretation).
Concerns:: • While the website author describes each of the visual illusions, simulations, or effects in good detail, and links are also provided to his research and interests, there are no explicit mentions of how the material could be used in an educational setting or how they can provide learning outcomes for users. Instructors should be prepared to develop their own learning objectives and assignments. • The site is most useful for individuals with good or corrected vision.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: • The author explicitly describes how to use the website content, how to navigate around the website, and how to access supplemental material. The website has easily noticeable links, which quickly go to the correct simulations. Options are provided should the user encounter issues with video playback. The text is easy to read, and describes very clearly the purpose of each simulation and the rationale behind it. • Given the MP4 format, the demonstrations should work in any browser.
Concerns:: • Some of the links do not obviously change color when clicked.

Other Issues and Comments:: Students studying Sensation and Perception in a dedicated course or as part of an Introductory course will benefit from the demonstrations either in-class or on their own.
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