Instructional technologies critically depend on systematic design, and learning hierarchies are a commonly advocated tool for designing instructional sequences. But hierarchies routinely allow numerous sequences and choosing an optimal sequence remains an unsolved problem. This study explores a simulation-based approach to modeling learning…

Learning progressions (LPs) are hypothetical models of how learning in a domain develops over time with appropriate instruction. In the domain of genetics, there are two independently developed alternative LPs. The main difference between the two progressions hinges on their assumptions regarding the accessibility of classical (Mendelian) versus…

This paper discusses Multi-Feature Hierarchical Sequential Pattern Mining, MFH-SPAM, a novel algorithm that efficiently extracts patterns from students' learning activity sequences. This algorithm extends an existing sequential pattern mining algorithm by dynamically selecting the level of specificity for hierarchically-defined features…

Individuals of all ages extract structure from the sequences of patterns they encounter in their environment, an ability that is at the very heart of cognition. Exactly what underlies this ability has been the subject of much debate over the years. A novel mechanism, implicit chunk recognition (ICR), is proposed for sequence segmentation and chunk…

Graphical representations (GRs) of the learning content are often used for instruction (Ainsworth, 2006). When used in learning technology, GRs can be especially useful since they allow for interactions across representations that are physically impossible, for instance by dragging and dropping symbolic statements into a chart that automatically…

The review demonstrates that studies of the role of instructional sequencing provide an important test of the assimilation-to-schema theory, and that many apparent inconsistencies in the literature may be better understood by an analysis of the internal assimilation process. (Author)

Although previous research has indicated no significant relationship between sequencing of programed instructional materials and terminal achievement, it is felt that certain conditions might produce such a relationship. In order to test this idea, a hierarchy of word meanings was constructed, in which each definition was dependent on the previous…

Translating social studies objectives into learnable tasks for students in the classroom involves understanding what a learning activity is, and that different types of learning activities serve different functions. An example of a learning activity sequence which includes four catagories of activities--intake, organizational, demonstrative, and…

A look at how developing countries, specifically Korea, are beginning to look to educational technology as a partial solution to their educational problems. (Author)

This study investigates the effects of content sequence on student learning. The treatments, a spatial and conceptual instructional sequence each consisting of identical content elements, were administered to students in a two-year college Botany course. Hypotheses tested were that sequence would have an effect on student perceptions of the…

RESEARCH ON SEQUENCING OF INSTRUCTION CAN BE DIVIDED INTO NINE TYPES ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS ON WHICH THE EXPERIMENTS VARY. SITUATIONS IN WHICH THE LEARNER CONTROLS THE OBJECTIVES ARE DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE EXPLICITLY BECAUSE OF DIFFERING CONTENT LEARNED. AMONG EXPERIMENTER-CONTROLLED LEARNING SITUATIONS, THE WORK OF GAGNE AND HIS…

A discussion of student-generated hierarchies developed for a mathematics objective by several small groups and validated on a second group. About 40 percent of the student-generated hierarchies were validated indicating that student input can be obtained to produce useful learning hierarchies. (Author)

Social studies teachers face pressures from demands for greater emphasis in the areas of multicultural aspects of the world population, expansive technological changes, citizenship and moral education, and accountability for basic competence. The latter demand offers an opportunity to return to the broad perspective of teaching students not "what…

TWO STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING MULTIPLE-DISCRIMINATION TASKS WERE REPORTED. THE "MULTIPLE CONCEPT" PRESENTS SIMPLE DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVERAL RELATED CONCEPTS AT THE BEGINNING OF INSTRUCTION. INCREASINGLY COMPLEX MATERIAL PERTAINING TO THESE CONCEPTS IS THEN GRADUALLY INTRODUCED. THE "SINGLE CONCEPT" PRESENTS ONE CONCEPT AT A TIME,…

This article suggests that a genuine reform endeavor towards the "Science for All" paradigm should adopt a holistic approach. There are several countries around the world that adopted the "Science for All" paradigm at the beginning of the 21st century. However, while looking closely at the amount of change that took place in…