Skip to main content
Log in

Interactive Example-Based Learning Environments: Using Interactive Elements to Encourage Effective Processing of Worked Examples

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Educational Psychology Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This review describes parts of our research program on example-based learning that relates to recent efforts to incorporate interactive elements into learning environments designed to support learning from worked-out examples. Since most learners spontaneously study or process examples in a very passive or superficial manner, this review focuses on how a variety of specific interactive elements in example-based leaning environments are capable of encouraging learners to actively process the examples. The review begins with an overview of the literature on worked examples and the associated self-explanation, which is important given that the quality of self-explanation is a major factor in determining whether learners benefit from studying examples. The review notes that example-based learning environments tend to be effective but often promote passive processing. It then highlights the strengths and limitations of three types interactivity introduced to example-based learning environments. The review concludes with a discussion of the role that these interactive elements play in these learning environments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aleven, V., Stahl, E., Schworm, S., Fischer, F., & Wallace, R. M. (2003). Help Seeking and Help Design in Interactive Learning Environments. Review of Educational Research, 73, 277–320.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, R. K., Derry, S. J., Renkl, A., & Wortham, D. W. (2000). Learning from examples: Instructional principles from the worked examples research. Review of Educational Research, 70, 181–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, R. K., Renkl, A., & Merrill, M. M. (2003). Transitioning from studying examples to solving problems: Effects of self-explanation prompts and fading worked-out steps. Journal of Educational Psychology, 95, 774–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chi, M. T. H., & Bassok, M. (1989). Learning from examples via self-explanations. In L. B. Resnick (Ed.), Knowing, learning, and instruction: Essays in honor of Robert Glaser (pp 251–282). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chi, M. T. H., Bassok, M., Lewis, M. W., Reimann, P., & Glaser, R. (1989). Self-explanations: How students study and use examples in learning to solve problems. Cognitive Science, 13, 145–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, G., & Sweller, J. (1987). Effects of schema acquisition and rule automation on mathematical problem-solving transfer. Journal of Educational Psychology, 79, 347–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilbert, T. S., Renkl, A., Kessler, S., & Reiss, K. (2007). Learning to prove in geometry: Learning from heuristic examples and how it can be supported. Learning & Instruction (in press).

  • Kalyuga, S., Ayres, P., Chandler, P., & Sweller, J. (2003). The expertise reversal effect. Educational Psychologist, 38, 23–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalyuga, S., Chandler, P., & Sweller, J. (2000). Incorporating learner experience into the design of multimedia instruction. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92, 126–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalyuga, S., Chandler, P., Tuovinen, J., & Sweller, J. (2001). When problem solving is superior to studying worked examples. Journal of Educational Psychology, 93, 579–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, G. E. (2004). Promoting cognition in multimedia interactivity research. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 15, 43–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeFevre, J., & Dixon, P. (1986). Do written instructions need examples? Cognition & Instruction, 3, 1–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paas, F. (1992). Training strategies for attaining transfer of problem-solving skill in statistics: A cognitive load approach. Journal of Educational Psychology, 84, 429–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pirolli, P. L., & Anderson, J. R. (1985). The role of learning from examples in the acquisition of recursive programming skills. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 39, 240–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirolli, P., & Recker, M. (1994). Learning strategies and transfer in the domain of programming. Cognition & Instruction, 12, 235–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Recker, M., & Pirolli, P. (1995), Modeling individual differences in students’ learning strategies. Journal of Learning Sciences, 4, 1–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renkl, A. (1997). Learning from worked-out examples: A study on individual differences. Cognitive Science, 21, 1–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renkl, A. (2002). Learning from worked-out examples: Instructional explanations supplement self-explanations. Learning & Instruction, 12, 149–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renkl, A., Atkinson, R. K., & Große, C. S. (2004). How fading worked solution steps works—a cognitive load perspective. Instructional Science, 32, 59–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renkl, A., Atkinson, R. K., Maier, U. H., & Staley, R. (2002). From example study to problem solving: Smooth transitions help learning. Journal of Experimental Education, 70, 293–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renkl, A., Hilbert, T., Schworm, S., & Reiss, K. (2007). Cognitive skill acquisition from complex examples: a taxonomy of examples and tentative instructional guidelines. In M. Prenzel (Eds.), Studies on the educational quality of schools. Münster, Germany: Waxmann (in press).

  • Robins, S., & Mayer, R. E. (1993). Schema formation in analogical reasoning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 85, 529–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schworm, S., & Renkl, A. (2006). Computer-supported example-based leaning: When instructional explanations reduce self-explanations. Computers and Education, 46, 426–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schworm, S., & Renkl, A. (2007). Learning argumentation skills through the use of prompts for self-explaining examples. Journal of Educational Psychology, 99, 285-296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stark, R. (1999). Lernen mit Lösungsbeispielen. Der Einfluß unvollständiger Lösungsschritte auf Beispielelaboration, Motivation und Lernerfolg [Learning by worked-out examples. The impact of incomplete solution steps on example elaboration, motivation, and learning outcomes]. Bern, CH: Huber.

  • Sweller, J., & Cooper, G. A. (1985). The use of worked examples as a substitute for problem solving in learning algebra. Cognition & Instruction, 2, 59–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweller, J., van Merriënboer, J. J. G., & Paas, F. G. (1998). Cognitive architecture and instructional design. Educational Psychology Review, 10, 251–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarmizi, R. A., & Sweller, J. (1988) Guidance during mathematical problem solving. Journal of Educational Psychology, 80, 424–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trafton, J. G., & Reiser, B. J. (1993). The contributions of studying examples and solving problems to skill acquisition. In M. Polson (Ed.), Proceedings of the fifteenth annual conference of the cognitive science society (pp 1017–1022). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanLehn, K., & Jones, R. M. (1993a). Learning by explaining examples to oneself: A computational model. In S. Chipman & A. Meyrowitz (Eds.), Cognitive models of complex learning (pp 25–82). Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • VanLehn, K., & Jones, R. M. (1993b), Integration of analogical search control and explanation-based learning of correctness. In S. Minton (Ed.), Machine learning methods for planning (pp 273–315). Los Altos, CA: Morgan Kaufmann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Merriënboer, J. J. G. (1990). Strategies for programming instruction in high school: Program completion vs. program generation. Journal of Computing Research, 6, 265–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Merriënboer, J. J. G., & de Crook, M. B. M. (1992). Strategies for computer-based programming instruction: Program completion vs. program generation. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 8, 212–234.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert K. Atkinson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Atkinson, R.K., Renkl, A. Interactive Example-Based Learning Environments: Using Interactive Elements to Encourage Effective Processing of Worked Examples. Educ Psychol Rev 19, 375–386 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-007-9055-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-007-9055-2

Keywords

Navigation