ERIC Number: EJ1472022
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-8251
EISSN: EISSN-1945-2306
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Interleaving in Mathematical Category Learning
Paul Rowlandson; Adrian Simpson
Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, v56 n3 p125-147 2025
On the basis of a substantial, robust, and well-replicated cognitive science research literature, interleaving has been recommended across a range of professional pedagogical works as an evidence-based strategy for mathematics teachers. This report first notes the conflation of interleaving and spacing effects underpinning those recommendations and the limitations of some laboratory-based research as grounding for practice, particularly given that no direct interleaving research involves mathematical concepts with school students. It then reports on two large classroom experiments aimed at replicating the direct interleaving-versus-blocking effect, alongside a more common teaching approach, for learning well-defined mathematical categories (angle relations). Repeated failure to detect an interleaving-versus-blocking effect raises the question of whether this effect is relevant to learning defined mathematical concepts.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Learning Processes, Mathematical Concepts, Teaching Methods, Evidence Based Practice, Mathematics Teachers, Geometry, Grade 7, Secondary School Students, Foreign Countries, Video Technology
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: publicationsdept@nctm.org; Web site: https://pubs.nctm.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 7; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A