Although programming is often learned through formal instruction or self-paced tutorials, informal learning, for example, through publicly available online documentation, is also a significant resource for skill development among novices. However, many novices struggle to extract useful information from documentation. This work aims to answer two…

The aim of the present study was to test the replicability of the text generation effect for learning with expository texts while systematically varying contextual factors that--based on extant literature--can be assumed to affect the occurrence and magnitude of the text generation effect. Seven experiments were conducted in which participants…

Academic writing is a complex and often painful process, made more difficult by the alienating pressures placed on academics to publish. In this paper, we offer an analysis of this pain that is both phenomenological and realist. We draw on literatures from several disciplines and our own experiences as academic writers to identify seven 'pains',…

This study tested competing theories about the effectiveness of different instructional sequences for learners with different levels of prior knowledge. Across two classroom experiments, undergraduates learned about noncovalent interactions in biochemistry by either receiving explicit instruction before problem-solving (I-PS group) or engaging in…

This study examined second language (L2) learning difficulty of 13 Chinese grammatical constructions on the basis of teachers' perceptions and associated the L2 learning difficulty of Chinese grammatical constructions with teacher-perceived learner grammatical competence and with the instructional levels. A total of 77 experienced teachers were…

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cognitive load level on students' attitude towards the gamified course. It was also found out the students' views regarding the 14-week gamified course. Participants consisted of 66 undergraduate students. 40 of them had low cognitive load level and 26 of them had high cognitive load level.…

In terms of instructional sequencing and cognitive load research, it remains unclear what effect different instructional sequences have on cognitive load and how to use problem-solving support within instructional sequences to reduce cognitive load. The current study examines how instructional sequencing and problem-solving support interact with…

Currently, there is little evidence about how non-English-speaking students learn computer programming. For example, there are few validated assessment instruments to measure the development of programming skills, especially for the Spanish-speaking population. Having valid assessment instruments is essential to identify the difficulties of the…

The effect of instructor clarity on student learning has been explained using cognitive load theory, which stipulates that students have limited mental resources to devote to activities pertaining to learning. To date, the effect of teacher clarity on students' cognitive burden has been studied in reference to students' extraneous cognitive load…

Mathematics education forms the foundational framework for cultivating crucial skills and competencies vital for navigating an ever more intricate and numerical society. Despite its significance, students often encounter challenges and express reluctance towards certain mathematical topics, thus warranting a deeper exploration into the factors…

Drawing on autobiographical essays written by master's students in mathematics preparing to become teachers, we investigate what mathematical identity these students articulate and how. By means of a discursive thematic analysis centered on the notion of ascesis, we show that the participants' identity revolves around a characterization of…

Pre-service teachers' metacognitive and problem-solving skills are highly important in the process of becoming effective teachers for providing their students with guided learning support. Determination of these two higher-order thinking processes and skills and investigation of the relationship between them is very important for enabling…

The aim of this study was to elucidate and describe students' thinking about organic chemistry reactions of small versus large drug-like molecules. Thirty-six students enrolled in a Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry course participated in individual, think-aloud interviews. The interview protocol included questions about five reactions with the…

In research practice, it is common to measure cognitive load after learning using self-report scales. This approach can be considered risky because it is unclear on what basis learners assess cognitive load, particularly when the learning material contains varying levels of complexity. This raises questions that have yet to be answered by…

Many researchers have evaluated how characteristics of feedback may influence trainee performance, but relatively little attention has been allocated to directly assessing trainee preference for feedback characteristics and its relation to performance. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to use a within-subject experimental design to…