Skip to main content

Adaptive Support versus Alternating Worked Examples and Tutored Problems: Which Leads to Better Learning?

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 8538))

Abstract

Learning from worked examples has been shown to be superior to unsupported problem solving when first learning in a new domain. Several studies have found that learning from examples results in faster learning in comparison to tutored problem solving in Intelligent Tutoring Systems. We present a study that compares a fixed sequence of alternating worked examples and tutored problem solving with a strategy that adaptively decides how much assistance the student needs. The adaptive strategy determines the type of task (a worked example, a faded example or a problem to be solved) based on how much assistance the student received in the previous problem. The results show that students in the adaptive condition learnt significantly more than their peers who were presented with a fixed sequence of worked examples and problems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Sweller, J., Cooper, G.A.: The Use of Worked Examples as a Substitute for Problem Solving in Learning Algebra. Cognition and Instruction 2, 59–89 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kalyuga, S., Chandler, P., Tuovinen, J., Sweller, J.: When problem solving is superior to studying worked examples. Educational Psychology 93, 579–588 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Sweller, J.: The worked example effect and human cognition. Learning and Instruction 16, 165–169 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Atkinson, R.K., Derry, S.J., Renkl, A., Wortham, D.: Learning from Examples: Instructional Principles from the Worked Examples Research. Review of Educational Research 70, 181–214 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. van Gog, T., Rummel, N.: Example-Based Learning: Integrating Cognitive and Social-Cognitive Research Perspectives. Educational Psychology Review 22, 155–174 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schwonke, R., Renkl, A., Krieg, C., Wittwer, J., Aleven, V., Salden, R.: The worked-example effect: Not an artefact of lousy control conditions. Computers in Human Behavior 25, 258–266 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. McLaren, B.M., Isotani, S.: When Is It Best to Learn with All Worked Examples? In: Biswas, G., Bull, S., Kay, J., Mitrovic, A. (eds.) AIED 2011. LNCS, vol. 6738, pp. 222–229. Springer, Heidelberg (2011)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  8. Shareghi Najar, A., Mitrovic, A.: Examples and Tutored Problems: How can Self-Explanation Make a Difference to Learning? In: Lane, H.C., Yacef, K., Mostow, J., Pavlik, P., et al. (eds.) AIED 2013. LNCS, vol. 7926, pp. 339–348. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  9. Koedinger, K., Aleven, V.: Exploring the Assistance Dilemma in Experiments with Cognitive Tutors. Educational Psychologist Review 19, 239–264 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Salden, R., Aleven, V., Renkl, A., Schwonke, R.: Worked Examples and Tutored Problem Solving: Redundant or Synergistic Forms of Support? Topics in Cognitive Science. Sci. 1, 203–213 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kalyuga, S., Sweller, J.: Rapid dynamic assessment of expertise to improve the efficiency of adaptive e-learning. Educational Technology Research and Development 53, 83–93 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. van Gog, T., Paas, F.: Instructional Efficiency: Revisiting the Original Construct in Educational Research. Educational Psychologist 43, 16–26 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Paas, F., Van Merrienboer, J.: The Efficiency of Instructional Conditions: An Approach to Combine Mental Effort and Performance Measures. Human Factors 35, 737–743 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Shareghi Najar, A., Mitrovic, A.: Do novices and advanced students benefit differently from worked examples and ITS? In: Wong, L.H., Liu, C.-C., Hirashima, T., Sumedi, P., Lukman, M. (eds.) Int. Conf. Computers in Education, Indonesia, Bali, pp. 20–29 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Chi, M.T.H., De Leeuw, N., Chiu, M.H., LaVancher, C.: Eliciting self-explanations improves understanding. Cognitive Science 18, 439–477 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Brown, A.L., Kane, M.J.: Preschool children can learn to transfer: Learning to learn and learning from example. Cognitive Psychology 20, 493–523 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hattie, J.: Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. Routledge, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mitrović, A.: Experiences in implementing constraint-based modeling in SQL-Tutor. In: Goettl, B.P., Halff, H.M., Redfield, C.L., Shute, V.J. (eds.) ITS 1998. LNCS, vol. 1452, pp. 414–423. Springer, Heidelberg (1998)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Mitrovic, A.: An Intelligent SQL Tutor on the Web. Artificial Intelligence in Education 13, 173–197 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Deeks, A.: Web Based Assignments in Structural Analysis. Centre for Educational Development, Nanyang Technological University (2000)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Najar, A.S., Mitrovic, A., McLaren, B.M. (2014). Adaptive Support versus Alternating Worked Examples and Tutored Problems: Which Leads to Better Learning?. In: Dimitrova, V., Kuflik, T., Chin, D., Ricci, F., Dolog, P., Houben, GJ. (eds) User Modeling, Adaptation, and Personalization. UMAP 2014. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 8538. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08786-3_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08786-3_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-08785-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-08786-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics