WWC review of this study

The acquisition of problem- solving skills in mathematics: How animations can aid understanding of structural problem features and solution procedures.

Scheiter, K., Gerjets, P., & Schuh, J. (2010, September). Instructional Science, 38(5), 487–502. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ893415

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    32
     Students
    , grade
    9

Reviewed: January 2023

At least one finding shows promising evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
Procedural knowledge outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Similiar Problems

Animating worked examples–Scheiter et al. (2010) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
32 students

69.59

46.50

Yes

 
 
37
 

Unrelated Problems

Animating worked examples–Scheiter et al. (2010) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
32 students

62.99

42.00

Yes

 
 
37
 

Equivalent Problems

Animating worked examples–Scheiter et al. (2010) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Full sample;
32 students

83.62

75.78

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 56%
    Male: 44%
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    International

Setting

The study took place in a German high school. Treatment and control students both attended a "project day" exploring learning through new media.

Study sample

Of the 32 participating students, 18 were female and 14 were male.

Intervention Group

Students attended a "project day" exploring learning through new media. The treatment group read three textbook chapters on biology, chemistry, and physics on a computer screen. The topics all lend themselves to algebra problems and within each chapter, there were three worked out examples of such problems. These worked examples were each accompanied by an animation. Animations start as a representation of the problem in concrete objects. These objects are then slowly morphed into mathematical symbols. Students take the pretest, complete the computer-based reading, and then take a post-test all in the same day (approximately two hours).

Comparison Group

These students also attended a "project day" exploring learning through new media. The comparison group read three textbook chapters on biology, chemistry, and physics on a computer screen. The topics all lend themselves to algebra problems and within each chapter, there were three worked out examples of such problems. Examples were presented as text only with no accompanying animation. Students take the pretest, complete the computer-based reading, and then take a post-test all in the same day (approximately two hours).

Support for implementation

None noted.

 

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