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Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics

Multimedia learning research addresses the question of how to design instructional material effectively. Signaling and adding graphics are typical instructional means that might support constructing a mental model, particularly when learning abstract content from multiple representations. Although s...

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Autores principales: Vogt, Andrea, Klepsch, Melina, Baetge, Ingmar, Seufert, Tina
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7772191/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33391118
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.601125
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author Vogt, Andrea
Klepsch, Melina
Baetge, Ingmar
Seufert, Tina
author_facet Vogt, Andrea
Klepsch, Melina
Baetge, Ingmar
Seufert, Tina
author_sort Vogt, Andrea
collection PubMed
description Multimedia learning research addresses the question of how to design instructional material effectively. Signaling and adding graphics are typical instructional means that might support constructing a mental model, particularly when learning abstract content from multiple representations. Although signals can help to select relevant aspects of the learning content, additional graphics could help to visualize mentally the subject matter. Learners’ prior knowledge is an important factor for the effectiveness of both types of support: signals and added graphics. Therefore, we conducted an experimental study situated in a university course of computer science with N = 124 participants. In our 2 × 2 factorial design, we investigated the effects of signals and illustrating graphics on learning outcomes and their potential interplay. Based on our regression analysis, we revealed prior knowledge as a significant moderator. Although learners with low levels of prior knowledge can profit from all types of help but still gain rather weak learning outcomes, learners with medium levels of prior knowledge profit from the synergy of both helps. With higher levels of prior knowledge, signals were particularly hampering. To improve the understanding of these supportive or hampering effects, a more fine-grained analysis of these processes and motivational effects is necessary.
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spelling pubmed-77721912020-12-31 Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics Vogt, Andrea Klepsch, Melina Baetge, Ingmar Seufert, Tina Front Psychol Psychology Multimedia learning research addresses the question of how to design instructional material effectively. Signaling and adding graphics are typical instructional means that might support constructing a mental model, particularly when learning abstract content from multiple representations. Although signals can help to select relevant aspects of the learning content, additional graphics could help to visualize mentally the subject matter. Learners’ prior knowledge is an important factor for the effectiveness of both types of support: signals and added graphics. Therefore, we conducted an experimental study situated in a university course of computer science with N = 124 participants. In our 2 × 2 factorial design, we investigated the effects of signals and illustrating graphics on learning outcomes and their potential interplay. Based on our regression analysis, we revealed prior knowledge as a significant moderator. Although learners with low levels of prior knowledge can profit from all types of help but still gain rather weak learning outcomes, learners with medium levels of prior knowledge profit from the synergy of both helps. With higher levels of prior knowledge, signals were particularly hampering. To improve the understanding of these supportive or hampering effects, a more fine-grained analysis of these processes and motivational effects is necessary. Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-12-16 /pmc/articles/PMC7772191/ /pubmed/33391118 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.601125 Text en Copyright © 2020 Vogt, Klepsch, Baetge and Seufert. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Psychology
Vogt, Andrea
Klepsch, Melina
Baetge, Ingmar
Seufert, Tina
Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics
title Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics
title_full Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics
title_fullStr Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics
title_full_unstemmed Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics
title_short Learning From Multiple Representations: Prior Knowledge Moderates the Beneficial Effects of Signals and Abstract Graphics
title_sort learning from multiple representations: prior knowledge moderates the beneficial effects of signals and abstract graphics
topic Psychology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7772191/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33391118
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.601125
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