Skip to content

Intent Preservation Matrix

Run the Intent Preservation Matrix Fullscreen

Description

This interactive visualization demonstrates how every element in a MicroSim specification should connect back to the learning objective. The hierarchical structure shows traceability from high-level pedagogical goals down to specific implementation details.

Interactive Features

  • Click any element to highlight its complete connection path
  • Hover over elements to see their rationale
  • Show Orphans button highlights unconnected elements in red
  • Reset View returns to the default state

Hierarchy Levels

Level Color Purpose
Learning Objective Dark Blue The overarching pedagogical goal
Key Concepts Blue Core ideas students must understand
Features/Elements Light Blue Interactive components that teach concepts
Specification Details Gray Implementation specifics

Example: Supply and Demand MicroSim

The visualization uses a Supply and Demand economics simulation as an example:

Learning Objective : "Understand how price equilibrium emerges from supply and demand interaction"

Key Concepts (4 items) : Supply curve slopes upward, Demand curve slopes downward, Equilibrium at intersection, Shifts affect equilibrium

Features (5 items) : Draggable curves, equilibrium marker, numeric readout, shift buttons

Specification Details (5 items) : Color choices, visual styling, update behavior, increment values

Traceability Principle

Every specification detail should be traceable back to the learning objective:

  1. Detail: "Intersection marked with yellow circle, 10px radius"
  2. Feature: Equilibrium point marker
  3. Concept: Equilibrium occurs at intersection
  4. Objective: Understand price equilibrium

If a detail cannot be traced back, it may be an orphan - an element that adds complexity without pedagogical value.

Detecting Orphans

Click "Show Orphans" to identify elements without traceability connections. These appear in red and should be:

  • Removed if they add unnecessary complexity
  • Connected by adding a rationale linking them to a concept
  • Reconsidered if they serve only decorative purposes

Learning Objectives

By exploring this diagram, students will be able to:

  1. Trace specification elements back to learning objectives
  2. Identify orphan elements that lack pedagogical justification
  3. Evaluate whether features serve the educational goals
  4. Design specifications with intent preservation in mind

Use Cases

This visualization pattern is useful for:

  • Specification Review: Verify all elements support learning goals
  • Design Documentation: Show the reasoning behind decisions
  • Quality Assurance: Catch feature creep and unnecessary complexity
  • Team Communication: Explain why specific choices were made

Technical Details

  • Built with vis-network library
  • Hierarchical layout with fixed node positions
  • Physics disabled for stable positioning
  • Zoom/drag disabled for iframe embedding
  • Navigation buttons enabled for accessibility
  • Orphan detection highlights unconnected nodes