Home PublicationsJRTEPast IssuesVolume 40 Number 1: Fall 2007

	Edited by Dr. Lynne Schrum, George Mason University
formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education

Volume 40 Number 1 Fall 2007

Learner Involvement in Instruction on a Complex Cognitive Task: Application of a Composite Measure of Performance and Mental Effort

A. Aubteen Darabi and David W. Nelson
Florida State University
Fred Paas
Open University of the Netherlands

Abstract

This study presents an application of a measure of learner involvement developed by Paas, Tuovinen, van Merrienboer, and Darabi (2005). These authors combined learners’ performance scores with their perceived mental effort invested in instruction and used it to assess learner involvement in instructional conditions. The present study examines the differentiating attributes of the Paas et al. learner involvement measure by using data collected in an experiment that investigated the effectiveness of three computer-based instructional strategies: (a) conventional problem solving, (b) product-oriented worked examples, and (c) process-oriented worked examples. As hypothesized, learners using worked example strategies showed higher involvement scores than those in conventional problem solving. However, no differences in learner involvement were found between the two worked-example strategies. The implications of these findings for designing instructional strategies and suggestions for further research are discussed.

 Download the full article (PDF, 209 KB)

Contributors

A. Aubteen Darabi, PhD, is an associate professor with the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems at Florida State University. He is also one of the Lead research Scientists at the Learning Systems Institute directing research projects funded by federal government.

David Nelson, PhD, is an instructional designer working on training and research projects at the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University

Fred Paas, PhD is an associate professor at the Open University of the Netherlands Educational technology Expertise Center

Copyright 2007, (International Society for Technology in Education). All rights reserved.