A method for sequencing instructional objectives which minimizes memory load |
| |
Authors: | John C. Nesbit Steve Hunka |
| |
Affiliation: | (1) Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, T6G 2G5 Edmonton, Canada |
| |
Abstract: | A Gagné-style learning hierarchy often permits a large number of alternate linear arrangements (sequences) of instructional objectives. An alternative is described here to traditional methods of choosing between sequences. Its premise is that, for every sequence, a value temed thememory load can be calculated which is theoretically related to the probability that students will fail to recall prerequisite objectives. A graph theoretic approach is taken in presenting an algorithm which generates a minimal memory load sequence from a learning tree, a restricted but frequently encountered type of learning hierarchy. In order to assess the effectiveness of the algorithm in generating low memory load sequences when given hierarchies which are not trees, it was applied to several published examples of learning hierarchies. The results indicated that the algorithm is effective as an heuristic, especially when combined with a hill-descending procedure which attempts to incrementally improve the generated sequence. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|