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…

Cognitive load theory's incorporation of evolutionary perspectives suggests biologically primary knowledge, acquired through evolutionary processes, can support students in learning biologically secondary knowledge, the focus of typical educational curricula. Touch-based interactions using the hands are likely to be biologically primary. The…