Use of Intellective and Non-Intellective Factors in Classifying Female Elementary and Secondary Teacher Trainees

Undergraduates (N = 94) enrolled in an educational psychology course read an assigned article of about 3, 700 words. A 30-item multiple-choice test was then administered and followed by one of four treatments: 1.) no feedback, 2.) immediate feedback, 3.) one day or, 4.) seven days delayed feedback. A retention test, consisting of the original items and distractors randomly reordered, was administered seven days after the feedback. No overall differences in performance were observed. Likewise, there were no significant differences for the test items analyzed according to initial performance or according to item difficulty. Questionnaire data indicated that immediate feedback stimulated the most rereading. These results bring into question the importance of controlling feedback intervals carefully in applied instructional settings.     

The effects of different feedback strategies using computer-administered multiple-choice questions as instruction

This study investigated the effects of using different forms of computer-based feedback on high school students' learning of science material. The basic design consisted of two conditions of instructional support (text and questions vs. questions only), two testings (immediate vs. retention), five levels of similarity between lesson and posttest questions, and five feedback conditions: knowledge of correct response (KCR), delayed KCR, answer until correct (AUC), questions only (no feedback), and no questions. Results showed significant benefits for feedback over no feedback, with AUC becoming more advantageous and delayed feedback less so as lesson-posttest question similarity decreased. Also, with decreased question similarity and the availability of supporting text, overall feedback effects tended to decrease. The results are discussed in terms of the information processing effects of the different feedback forms, a factor that CBI designers often fail to exploit in planning feedback conditions.This article is based on a doctoral dissertation submitted to the faculty of Memphis State University by the first author. Reprint requests should be addressed to Steven M. Ross, Department of Foundations of Education, Memphis State University, Memphis, TN 38152.     

Effects of delayed retention on multiple-choice test performance

In two experiments, immediate feedback defined as feedback following the completion of a 40-item multiple-choice test and delayed feedback (received 48 hr later) were examined in a simulated classroom situation with college students. As defined, delayed feedback was not superior to immediate feedback, as would be predicted by the delayed retention effect. Also, feedback in the form of correct answer only was superior to correct answer plus distractors lending partial support to the frequency theory of recognition memory. In addition to not finding the delayed retention effect, an analysis of errors in experiment two did not support the interference—perseveration hypothesis as an explanation for the type of error committed following immediate feedback.     

An interaction of screen colour and lesson task in CAL

Colour is a common feature in computer‐aided learning (CAL), though the instructional effects of screen colour are not well understood. This investigation considers the effects of different CAL study tasks with feedback on posttest performance and on posttest memory of the lesson colour scheme. Graduate students (n=68) completed a computer‐based vocabulary lesson that included either multiple‐choice or constructed‐response study tasks with feedback. Each lesson section used a different colour theme, while the posttest did not use colour. The constructed‐response study task was a little more effective for posttest memory of lesson content but was substantially less effective for posttest memory of the lesson colour scheme. These results show a clear interaction of screen colour and lesson study task, a memory‐context effect. The practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Mathematics practice without feedback: A desirable difficulty in a classroom setting

Recent research highlights the potential benefits of practice without feedback on learner’s strategy knowledge. However, most prior work has been conducted in one-on-one settings with short retention intervals. We compared the effects of mathematics practice with and without correct-answer feedback on immediate and 1-week delayed performance in a classroom setting. In a randomized experiment, 243 second- and third-grade children received strategy instruction and then practiced solving relevant problems in small groups within their classroom. During practice, children received immediate feedback (after each problem), summative feedback (after all the problems in the set), or no feedback. During the practice task, immediate feedback led to the best performance. However, practice without feedback led to higher levels of mastery on the 1-week knowledge retention test. Thus, instructional practices that seem less effective at first can, for some children, ultimately result in more desirable learning.     

Information Feedback,Need Achievement and Retention 1

Abstract

A test of achievement motivation was administered to 260 sixth graders. One month later, students participated in a science reading lesson followed by a multiple-choice test based upon that lesson. Feedback regarding performance was provided according to a standardized procedure either immediately after the test, or with one, two or three day delays. Then a retention test was administered to each group three days alter feedback. Results demonstrated that students who received feedback with a delay of one day manifested greater retention than students who received immediate feedback. There were no significant differences among groups who were exposed to delays of one, two or three days. A positive relation between achievement motivation and retention was demonstrated. There was no interaction between achievement motivation and feedback schedules.     

Memory,IQ and Examination Performance

ABSTRACT Two studies explored individual differences in general memory ability and their relation to performance in a public examination taken at age 15‐16 years in England and Wales. Five memory tasks were used to test both immediate memory and retention a week later. Rank orders of performance across the memory tasks, with IQ partialled out, were found to be significantly related, suggesting some general process. Separate indices of general memory ability for the immediate and delayed tests were highly correlated with each other and also with self‐ratings of memory ability. Multiple regression revealed that self‐rating of memory ability was the only significant independent predictor of examination performance. The results suggest that individual differences in memory ability account for between 10 and 20% of the variance in performance in this examination in groups of above‐average IQ. Possible reasons for the importance of memory in this context and implications for instructional methods are discussed.     

What animated illustrations conditions can improve technical document comprehension in young students? Format, signaling and control of the presentation

We study the comprehension of a multimedia technical document about gear functioning by young pupils. The research is focused on the effect of three factors on the construction of a mental model: illustration format (animated versus static) signaling cues (presence versus absence) learner-control of information delivery (three rhythms of presentation: speed, slow and self-controlled). The experimental procedure, conducted with 123 children, follows three phases: pre-test, individual passation of the lesson, comprehension test, delayed post-test. The goal of the pre-test is the evaluation of prior knowledge about gears, but also the control of spatial and verbal working memory aptitude and reading performance. The results show an effect of the animated format, of signaling cues and of the rhythm on the immediate comprehension test and delayed test. For the immediate comprehension test, these effects are different according to the kind of comprehension question (recall, transfer, explanation). These effects are maintained at the delayed post-test, for the self-controlled condition and for the pupils with low prior knowledge. The factor information delivery rhythm shows an effect for the delayed post-test. Our observation device of the behaviour of the child during the lesson was specially designed to explore the reading strategies between the medias.     

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS AS AN AID IN DESIGNING AN INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM

The usefulness of a structural analysis of pretest items in designing an instructional system is illustrated by the application of this technique to 100 addition computation problems. 10 structural characteristics of the problems were derived from the more general objectives of the instructional system (micro-objectives) and used as predictors of problem (mini-objectives) difficulty level in a stepwise regression analysis, in a manner similar to that of traditional studies of readability. The authors point out that regression equations derived in this way can be used to plan lessons in which all problems would be of approximately equal difficulty, and thus could have maximally reliable entrance or pretests, and might also be concerned with only one factor or topic. Lessons could be arranged from easiest to most difficult by using the regression equation to predict lesson difficulty. It is thought that the size of the multiple correlation between difficulty level and the structural variables may be an indication of how well the micro- and mini-objectives of the instructional system have been formulated.     

Note taking and student verbalization as instrumental learning activities

Note taking and verbalization are considered as instrumental student activities which influence the relationship between the learning task and the learning outcomes. Research has demonstrated no significant relationships between the type of test anticipated and the amount of notes taken. The time interval between the presentation of the instructional stimuli and the criterion test does influence the amount of notes taken with a delayed test expectancy resulting in more note taking activity than immediate test expectancy. The probability of a student recalling an item on a test is greater if that item is present in the notes than if it is not present. Studies which compared note taking to no note taking conditions have shown a facilitative effect for note taking, but the effect is influenced by type of review condition and the time interval between note taking and criterion test. Research on the effects of verbalization in instructional settings has failed to show any clear benefits for methods which involve greater student verbalization. Controlled laboratory studies have shown that overt verbalization positively influences associational learning, serial learning, and discrimination learning. Alternative theoretical explanations for the effects of note taking and verbalization are discussed, and a structure for future research on these topics is provided.     

教学策略、方法与结构——以知识与技能教学为例

教学策略是使学生掌握学习结果并形成互动的主要媒介。教学方法是教学策略的一个组成要素,也是传递学习内容并提供学习指导以保证学生掌握所学知识技能的过程。教学策略和方法本身很难说有什么好坏优劣之分,只不过不同的人适合不同的策略,而选择合适的教学策略的目的就是为了充分发挥其功效而不至于浪费或误用。课堂教学结构是指在教学中发挥特定功能的可资辨别的要素。它是教学过程中的基本构成板块,也是充分发挥教学功能,提高教学效率所必需的。课堂教学结构中的核心成分包括:明确教学目标,导入新课,聚焦核心知识点,提供举例或说明,开展练习和给予反馈。各类教学策略或者方法都可以在课堂教学结构中得到运用。     

Investigating Teachers’ Skills in Interpreting Evidence of Student Learning

This study measured and explored the relationships among elementary mathematics teachers’ skill in (a) determining what an item measures, (b) analyzing student work, (c) providing targeted feedback, and (d) determining next instructional steps. Twenty-three elementary mathematics teachers were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: analyzing items and student responses without rubrics, analyzing items and student responses with rubrics, or analyzing items and student responses with rubrics after watching a professional development program on providing feedback to students. Findings show there is a moderate to strong relationship between teachers’ abilities to analyze student responses to infer what a student knows and can do and their abilities to take action based on that information through either providing the student feedback or making appropriate instructional adaptations. Findings show it was relatively more difficult for teachers to provide feedback that was likely to move students forward in their learning than it was for them to analyze a student's response or to determine next instructional steps. No teacher skill differences associated with the different treatment conditions were found.     

Content and timing of feedback in a web-based learning environment: effects on learning as a function of prior knowledge

This study investigated the effectiveness of different types of feedback content (elaborate versus global) and feedback timing (immediate versus delayed) for learning genetics in a web-based learning environment as a function of learners' prior knowledge. It was hypothesized that learning outcomes of students with low prior knowledge would be fostered by immediate elaborate feedback, whereas those of students with more prior knowledge would be enhanced by delayed global feedback. Students' perceptions of the feedback they received were explored. Results showed a significant positive effect of global feedback on learning outcomes for higher prior knowledge learners, although those who received elaborate feedback gave a higher appreciation rating. The findings are discussed in terms of implications for the design and delivery of feedback in web-based learning environments.     

Framework of a Decision-Theoretic Tutoring System for Learning of Mechanics

This paper presents the application of decision-theoretic technique to computer-based tutoring system for elementary mechanics. The technique uses sound probabilistic reasoning and a student model to identify learner's misconception(s). Bayesian belief networks are the building blocks of the student model. The probability values in Bayes' nets are provided by teacher and are based on her judgement, but may be substituted with actual statistics. Evidence on student's mastery of concepts is obtained through her responses to appropriately selected items. Subsequently, Rasch one-parameter model is used to calibrate the item and person parameters (also known as difficulty and ability indices, respectively). The system is able to provide teacher with information for fine-tuning her pedagogical instructions and guide her in coaching students. It is also able to provide students with immediate feedback to improve their proficiencies and ultimately their grades.     

Effects of cooperative learning and need for affiliation on performance,time on task,and satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cooperative learning and the need for affiliation on performance, time on task, and satisfaction. Subjects used either a cooperative or individual learning strategy while receiving information, examples, practice, and feedback from an instructional television lesson. Results indicated that subjects who worked cooperatively spent more time working on practice exercises and reported greater satisfaction than those who worked individually. In addition, results revealed an interaction between instructional method and the need for affiliation. Performance of subjects with a high need for affiliation who worked alone was lower than that of all other groups when subjects were asked to apply what they had learned from the lesson. Implications for employing cooperative groups in settings that were originally designed for individual learning are provided.     

负向反馈对中学生英语冠词习得的作用

本研究主要探讨重铸、元语言反馈和要求澄清三种修正性反馈方式对中国中学生英语冠词习得的不同作用,并检测男女生不同性别是否会对这三种反馈方式产生不同效果。本研究经过约8周的实验,结果显示,重铸和元语言反馈在即时后测和延时后测中表现显著有效性,而要求澄清的效果不明显,不接受任何反馈的控制组的前后检测结果无显著差异。与元语言反馈相比,重铸在中国中学生英语冠词学习中表现出稳定且持久的效果。本研究还表明女生对这三种负向反馈方式的效果均要好于男生。     

Book Reviews

This study investigated the effects of a visual advance organizer on a biology concept learning task among fifth graders. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) a visual advance organizer will facilitate the acquisition of concepts, especially when the material to be learned has visual components; (2) the organizer will be more effective in enhancing transfer than facilitating acquisition of verbal information; and (3) the organizer will produce greater benefits over long‐term retention of content. Three treatments were administered to 48 fifth graders, ranging from 10 to 11 years. In two of the treatments, subjects were exposed to a visual organizer either before or after the completion of a self‐instructional unit on ‘Fungi’. In the third treatment (control group), students were not given any organizer. Two parallel‐form post‐tests‐‐immediate and delayed‐‐were administered, consisting of three levels of learning outcomes: knowledge, comprehension and application. Results of MANCOVA on performance showed a slight but non‐significant difference in delayed post‐test scores. An interaction between the levels of learning and time of test factor also emerged. Findings of the study are discussed in terms of the assimilation theory, and aptitude‐treatment interactions observed between prior knowledge and level of instructional support.     

Learner Choice and Task Engagement

Students studied instructional materials under two choice conditions. In one case, students were free to choose the topic of study from six alternatives; in the other, the topic was assigned randomly. In addition, some of the students received immediate tests on the materials while the others took placebo tests. When free to choose the topic, students had higher affect for the material, showed greater willingness to continue work on the topic later, and spent more time studying the materials. While the presence of an immediate test increased delayed retention, freedom to choose the topic did not. A measure of students’ perceptions of the amount of freedom they felt in the choice and no-choice situations suggested that they felt relatively but not absolutely freer when able to choose the topic. Apparently, the relative increase in feeling of freedom was sufficient to influence affective but not cognitive outcomes.     

Memory modality differences in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder with and without learning disabilities

This study assesses information processing and memory functioning in 50 children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) with and without learning disabilities (LD). Mode of presentation (visual vs. auditory), type of memory processing (immediate, short-term, and long-term), and order of recall (ordered vs. unordered) were assessed using the Learning Efficiency Test-II (LET-II). Both groups demonstrated difficulty with auditory ordered recall and lost substantial information from immediate memory to short-term and long-term memory stores. The ADHD/LD group also demonstrated more difficulty with ordered recall than the ADHD only group. While there were no differences between the two groups in regard to immediate recall, the ADHD/LD group demonstrated more problems transferring information into short-term and long-term memory stores than the ADHD only group. Verbal interference effects significantly decreased retention for both visual and auditory processing. Results indicate that ADHD alone presents significant problems in information processing, but the comorbid effects of a learning disability further intensify the negative impact of ADHD. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigating the impact of automated feedback on students’ scientific argumentation

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the role of automated scoring and feedback in supporting students’ construction of written scientific arguments while learning about factors that affect climate change in the classroom. The automated scoring and feedback technology was integrated into an online module. Students’ written scientific argumentation occurred when they responded to structured argumentation prompts. After submitting the open-ended responses, students received scores generated by a scoring engine and written feedback associated with the scores in real-time. Using the log data that recorded argumentation scores as well as argument submission and revisions activities, we answer three research questions. First, how students behaved after receiving the feedback; second, whether and how students’ revisions improved their argumentation scores; and third, did item difficulties shift with the availability of the automated feedback. Results showed that the majority of students (77%) made revisions after receiving the feedback, and students with higher initial scores were more likely to revise their responses. Students who revised had significantly higher final scores than those who did not, and each revision was associated with an average increase of 0.55 on the final scores. Analysis on item difficulty shifts showed that written scientific argumentation became easier after students used the automated feedback.