Difference between revisions of "Worked Examples"

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(Updated pattern according to writing workshop comments from PLoP 2015.)
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|domain= General
|domain= General
|stakeholders= Teachers, Students
|stakeholders= Teachers, Students
|evaluation = [http://www.openeducationeuropa.eu/en/paper/design-patterns-open-online-teaching-and-learning eLearning Papers] review<br/>[http://www.hillside.net/plop/2015/ PLoP 2015] writing workshop<br/> [[Talk:ASSISTments]]
|evaluation = [http://www.openeducationeuropa.eu/en/paper/design-patterns-open-online-teaching-and-learning eLearning Papers] review<br/>[http://www.hillside.net/plop/2015/ PLoP 2015] shepherding and writing workshop<br/> [[Talk:ASSISTments]]
|application = [[ASSISTments]]
|application = [[ASSISTments]]
|appliedevaluation = [[ASSISTments]]
|appliedevaluation = [[ASSISTments]]
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==Context==
==Context==
Teachers ask their students to answer exercises on an online learning system that help them practice what they learned in class, and assess their understanding. Teachers design and encode the problems with corresponding answers in the system. Teachers also design feedback such as hints, or bug messages (i.e., short explanation why the answer was incorrect) to address common student misconceptions or errors. When students get stuck or have a difficult time solving the problem, they can request for help from the system and the system gives back the encoded teacher feedback.  
Students are answering problem-solving activities on an online learning system to get practice with a particular type of skill. Students are implementing the design pattern '''[[Try_it_yourself | Try It Yourself]]'''.


==Problem==
==Problem==
Some students don’t have an overview of how to solve the problem and where to begin.
Some students may be motivated to solve a problem, but do not know where to begin, and do not want to muddle their way through hints without an overview of the problem solving process first.


==Forces==
==Forces==
#'''Prior knowledge.''' Students may find it impossible to solve a problem when they have not acquired the necessary skills to solve it<ref name="Sweller2004">Sweller, J. (2004). [http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FB%3ATRUC.0000021808.72598.4d Instructional design consequences of an analogy between evolution by natural selection and human cognitive architecture]. Instructional science, 32(1-2), 9-31.</ref>.
#'''Prior knowledge.''' Students may be unable to solve a problem if they forget key facts, concepts, and processes<ref>Hume, G., Michael, J., Rovick, A., and Evens, M.  (1996). [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327809jls0501_2 Hinting as a tactic in one-on-one tutoring]. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 5(1), 23-47.</ref>.
#'''Randomness.''' When students do not know how to solve a problem, they randomly combine elements they already know to form a solution and test its effectiveness. Although it is possible to find a solution this way, it could take a lot of time and effort especially if it is a complex problem<ref name="Sweller2004"/>).
#'''Randomness.''' When students do not know how to solve a problem, they may randomly combine elements to form a solution that may not solve the problem or even confuse themselves further<ref name="Sweller2004">Sweller, J. (2004). [http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FB%3ATRUC.0000021808.72598.4d Instructional design consequences of an analogy between evolution by natural selection and human cognitive architecture]. Instructional science, 32(1-2), 9-31.</ref>.
#'''Affective entry.''' When students are unable to achieve their learning goals, they may become frustrated, discouraged of their abilities, and dislike the subject<ref name="Bloom1974">Bloom, B. S. (1974). [http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/amp/29/9/682/ Time and learning]. American psychologist, 29(9), 682.</ref>.  
#'''Affective entry.''' When students are unable to achieve their learning goals, they may become frustrated, discouraged of their abilities, and dislike the subject <ref name="Bloom1974">Bloom, B. S. (1974). [http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/amp/29/9/682/ Time and learning]. American psychologist, 29(9), 682.</ref>.  
#'''Limited resources.''' Student attention and patience is a limited resource possibly affected by pending deadlines, upcoming tests, achievement in previous learning experiences, personal interest, quality of instruction, achievement in previous learning experiences, personal interest, quality of instruction, and others<ref>Arnold, A., Scheines, R., Beck, J. E., and Jerome, B. (2005). [https://oli.cmu.edu/wp-oli/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Arnold_2005_Time_and_Attention.pdf Time and attention: Students, sessions, and tasks]. In Proceedings of the AAAI 2005 Workshop Educational Data Mining (pp. 62-66).</ref><ref name="Bloom1974"/>.
#'''Limited resources.''' Students may eventually give up if they are unable to solve the problem<ref>D’Mello, S., and Graesser, A. (2012). [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959475211000806 Dynamics of affective states during complex learning]. Learning and Instruction, 22(2), 145-157.</ref>
 


==Solution==
==Solution==
Therefore, provide a worked example so that students can have an overview of the procedures to follow.
Therefore, provide a worked example so that students can have an overview of the procedures to follow. Worked examples show a step-by-step process of solving a problem similar to the type of problem the student is currently asked to solve. Students may request for a worked example themselves, or the system could show the worked example automatically when a given condition is satisfied (e.g., too many incorrect attempts, too many hint requests, student’s answer is very different from the expected answer). 


Students may request for a worked example themselves, or the system could show the worked example automatically according to different mechanisms (e.g., too many attempts, predictions of student ability to solve the problem). 


==Consequences==
==Consequences==


===Benefits===
===Benefits===
#Worked examples help students form new knowledge, which they can use to solve similar problems.
#Worked examples help students form new knowledge, which they can use to solve the current problem and similar problems in the future.
#Students see an effective solution to adapt instead of finding solutions on their own.
#Students can pattern their solution on the worked example instead of finding solutions on their own.
#Students will be more confident in their abilities and develop interest in the subject when they successfully apply the solution.
#Students will be more confident in their abilities and develop interest in the subject when they successfully apply the solution.
#Students will be focused in activities they know how to perform.
#Worked examples may help guide students to solve the problem that they were not able to solve themselves<ref name="Vygotsky1962">Vygotsky, L. S.  (1962). Language and thought. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Ontario, Canada.</ref>


===Liabilities===
===Liabilities===
#Teachers and content experts will need to provide worked examples aside from hints and other feedback.
#Teachers and content experts will also need to provide worked examples for the problems they create.
#The online learning system will need to provide an interface to show worked examples.
#The worked example may give away too much information (e.g., student would have already remembered the process if only two out of five steps were presented).
#The online learning system will need to identify when to provide the worked example. Showing it too soon may take away possible learning opportunities, but showing it too late may no longer be helpful.


==Evidence==
==Evidence==


===Literature===
===Literature===
Learning from examples is a common learning strategy that students use to acquire new skills. Worked examples give a step-by-step demonstration of how to perform a task or solve a problem. It helps novice learners form basic knowledge structures, which they can use to acquire new knowledge and skills through practice<ref>Clark, R. C., and Mayer, R. E. (2011). [http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470874309.html E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning]. John Wiley & Sons.</ref>.  
Expert guidance can help students achieve difficult tasks within the Zone of Proximal Development, which they are unable to do on their own<ref name="Vygotsky1962"/>. Worked examples are one way of guiding student learning. It gives a step-by-step demonstration of how to perform a task or solve a problem. It helps novice learners form basic knowledge structures, which they can use to acquire new knowledge and skills through practice<ref>Clark, R. C., and Mayer, R. E. (2011). [http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470874309.html E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning]. John Wiley & Sons.</ref>.  


===Discussion===
===Discussion===
In a meeting with Ryan Baker and his team at Teacher's College in Columbia University, Neil Heffernan and his team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Peter Scupelli and his team at the School of Design in Carnegie Mellon University (i.e., ASSISTments stakeholders), the team agreed that linking to external content such as textbooks was a notable, recurring design problem. They also considered consolidating content in ASSISTments as a good solution.
Shepherds, writing workshop participants, and learning system stakeholders (i.e., data mining experts, learning scientists, and educators) agreed that the design pattern’s solution could address the identified problem.


David West, the pattern's shepherd at PLoP 2015, also considered the pattern definition acceptable.


===Data===
===Data===
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<!--===Applied evaluation===
<!--===Applied evaluation===
Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or similar tests that measures the pattern's effectiveness in an actual application. For example, compare student learning gains in an online learning system with and without applying the pattern. -->
Results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or similar tests that measures the pattern's effectiveness in an actual application. For example, compare student learning gains in an online learning system with and without applying the pattern. -->
==Example==
Worked examples are common strategies used in online learning systems to support student learning. Both [[Cognitive_tutor_algebra | Cognitive Tutor Algebra]] and [[Cognitive_tutor_geometry | Cognitive Tutor Geometry]] provide a button that students can click to request for a worked example<ref>Aleven, V., Mclaren, B., Roll, I., and Koedinger, K.  (2006). [http://content.iospress.com/articles/international-journal-of-artificial-intelligence-in-education/jai16-2-02 Toward meta-cognitive tutoring: A model of help seeking with a Cognitive Tutor]. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 16(2), 101-128.</ref><ref>Koedinger, K. R., and Aleven, V.  (2007). [http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-007-9049-0 Exploring the assistance dilemma in experiments with cognitive tutors]. Educational Psychology Review, 19(3), 239-264.</ref>. The [[ASSISTments]] online learning system also supports the creation of worked examples for problem solving activities<ref>Weitz, R., Salden, R. J. C. M., Kim, R. S., and Heffernan, N. T.  (2010). [http://web.cs.wpi.edu/~nth/pubs_and_grants/papers/2011/Weitz_5_12[1].pdf Comparing worked examples and tutored problem solving: Pure vs. mixed approaches]. In Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 2876-2881).</ref>. It gives content creators the flexibility in controlling where to attach the worked example and when to show it (e.g., hint, scaffold, scaffold on incorrect response).
The figure below illustrates an example of a geometry problem and an associated worked example. It shows a step-by-step process of solving for the angle x, but uses a different problem so as not to give away the answer.
[[File:Worked_examples_ex.png | center|800px]]


==Related patterns==
==Related patterns==
Worked examples organize the solution into a series of steps much like '''Wizard'''<ref>Tidwell, J. (2011). [http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920000556.do Designing Interfaces]. O’Reilly Media, Sebastapool, CA, USA.</ref>.
The '''[[Worked_examples | Worked Examples]]''' design pattern can be used to support student learning when they implement the '''[[Try_it_yourself | Try It Yourself]]''', '''[[Different_exercise_levels | Different Exercise Levels]]''', or '''[[Build_and_maintain_confidence | Build and Maintain Confidence]]''' design patterns.  


==Example==
When teachers create a math problem in an online learning system, they can encode the math problem, the correct answer, corresponding hints, and also a worked example. Students can request for worked examples to see an effective solution they can learn from, and use it to solve the current problem and similar problems in the future.


[[File:Worked_examples_ex.png | center|800px]]


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
==External Links==
* [http://www.carnegielearning.com/learning-solutions/software/cognitive-tutor/ Cognitive Tutor Software]
*[http://assistments.org ASSISTments]


[[Category:Design_patterns]] [[Category:ASSISTments]]
[[Category:Design_patterns]] [[Category:ASSISTments]]

Revision as of 13:53, 12 April 2016

Worked Examples
Worked examples.png
Contributors Paul Inventado, Peter Scupelli
Last modification April 12, 2016
Source {{{source}}}
Pattern formats OPR Alexandrian
Usability
Learning domain General
Stakeholders Teachers, Students
Production
Data analysis Student affect and interaction behavior in ASSISTments
Confidence
Evaluation eLearning Papers review
PLoP 2015 shepherding and writing workshop
Talk:ASSISTments
Application ASSISTments
Applied evaluation ASSISTments

If a student doesn’t have an overview of how to solve the problem and where to begin, then provide a worked example so that students can have an overview of the procedures to follow.

Context

Students are answering problem-solving activities on an online learning system to get practice with a particular type of skill. Students are implementing the design pattern Try It Yourself.

Problem

Some students may be motivated to solve a problem, but do not know where to begin, and do not want to muddle their way through hints without an overview of the problem solving process first.

Forces

  1. Prior knowledge. Students may be unable to solve a problem if they forget key facts, concepts, and processes[1].
  2. Randomness. When students do not know how to solve a problem, they may randomly combine elements to form a solution that may not solve the problem or even confuse themselves further[2].
  3. Affective entry. When students are unable to achieve their learning goals, they may become frustrated, discouraged of their abilities, and dislike the subject [3].
  4. Limited resources. Students may eventually give up if they are unable to solve the problem[4]


Solution

Therefore, provide a worked example so that students can have an overview of the procedures to follow. Worked examples show a step-by-step process of solving a problem similar to the type of problem the student is currently asked to solve. Students may request for a worked example themselves, or the system could show the worked example automatically when a given condition is satisfied (e.g., too many incorrect attempts, too many hint requests, student’s answer is very different from the expected answer).


Consequences

Benefits

  1. Worked examples help students form new knowledge, which they can use to solve the current problem and similar problems in the future.
  2. Students can pattern their solution on the worked example instead of finding solutions on their own.
  3. Students will be more confident in their abilities and develop interest in the subject when they successfully apply the solution.
  4. Worked examples may help guide students to solve the problem that they were not able to solve themselves[5]

Liabilities

  1. Teachers and content experts will also need to provide worked examples for the problems they create.
  2. The worked example may give away too much information (e.g., student would have already remembered the process if only two out of five steps were presented).
  3. The online learning system will need to identify when to provide the worked example. Showing it too soon may take away possible learning opportunities, but showing it too late may no longer be helpful.

Evidence

Literature

Expert guidance can help students achieve difficult tasks within the Zone of Proximal Development, which they are unable to do on their own[5]. Worked examples are one way of guiding student learning. It gives a step-by-step demonstration of how to perform a task or solve a problem. It helps novice learners form basic knowledge structures, which they can use to acquire new knowledge and skills through practice[6].

Discussion

Shepherds, writing workshop participants, and learning system stakeholders (i.e., data mining experts, learning scientists, and educators) agreed that the design pattern’s solution could address the identified problem.


Data

According to an analysis of ASSISTments’ data, students rapidly requested for all available hints when they did not know how to solve the problem (i.e., based on hint request and answer correctness features). Students could have used hints as a proxy for worked examples, which showed them the entire procedure for solving the problem.

Example

Worked examples are common strategies used in online learning systems to support student learning. Both Cognitive Tutor Algebra and Cognitive Tutor Geometry provide a button that students can click to request for a worked example[7][8]. The ASSISTments online learning system also supports the creation of worked examples for problem solving activities[9]. It gives content creators the flexibility in controlling where to attach the worked example and when to show it (e.g., hint, scaffold, scaffold on incorrect response).

The figure below illustrates an example of a geometry problem and an associated worked example. It shows a step-by-step process of solving for the angle x, but uses a different problem so as not to give away the answer.

Worked examples ex.png

Related patterns

The Worked Examples design pattern can be used to support student learning when they implement the Try It Yourself, Different Exercise Levels, or Build and Maintain Confidence design patterns.


References

  1. Hume, G., Michael, J., Rovick, A., and Evens, M. (1996). Hinting as a tactic in one-on-one tutoring. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 5(1), 23-47.
  2. Sweller, J. (2004). Instructional design consequences of an analogy between evolution by natural selection and human cognitive architecture. Instructional science, 32(1-2), 9-31.
  3. Bloom, B. S. (1974). Time and learning. American psychologist, 29(9), 682.
  4. D’Mello, S., and Graesser, A. (2012). Dynamics of affective states during complex learning. Learning and Instruction, 22(2), 145-157.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Vygotsky, L. S. (1962). Language and thought. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Ontario, Canada.
  6. Clark, R. C., and Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designers of multimedia learning. John Wiley & Sons.
  7. Aleven, V., Mclaren, B., Roll, I., and Koedinger, K. (2006). Toward meta-cognitive tutoring: A model of help seeking with a Cognitive Tutor. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 16(2), 101-128.
  8. Koedinger, K. R., and Aleven, V. (2007). Exploring the assistance dilemma in experiments with cognitive tutors. Educational Psychology Review, 19(3), 239-264.
  9. Weitz, R., Salden, R. J. C. M., Kim, R. S., and Heffernan, N. T. (2010). [1.pdf Comparing worked examples and tutored problem solving: Pure vs. mixed approaches]. In Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society (pp. 2876-2881).

External Links