Lesson variability benefits transfer only in combination with worked-example instruction, as shown by a variability-by-instruction interaction¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2000 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? In teaching geometry to secondary technical school students, students in worked-example conditions benefited more from lesson variability than students in practice conditions, alongside a main effect for example-based instruction. → Atkinson 2000

Evidence¶

Atkinson 2000¶

Atkinson, R. K., Derry, S. J., Renkl, A., & Wortham, D. (2000). Learning from Examples: Instructional Principles from the Worked Examples Research. Review of Educational Research, 70(2), 181-214. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543070002181

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review reports, citing Paas and Van Merrienboer, a four-group experiment (low/high variability by practice/example) with secondary technical school students learning geometry, assessed by a six-item transfer posttest; the review reports 'an interaction' favoring worked-example conditions.

"Consistent with their prediction, they also found an interaction: Students in the worked-example condition benefited more from lesson variability than students in the practice condition."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Encoding variability across varied example contexts produces decontextualization supporting transfer (review reports DiVesta and Peverly) — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it

• Comparing cases side by side improves learning and transfer by a moderate average amount, though in one algebra study it raised procedural knowledge and flexibility but not conceptual knowledge — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it

• Split-attention worked examples lose their advantage over conventional practice, while integrated formats restore it — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it

• Invention Tasks Prepare Future Learning — related
• Segmentation Benefits Shrink With Expertise — related