Artificial Instruction. A Method for Relating Learning Theory to Instructional Design.

In the past, research on learning has been linked to instruction by the derivation of general principles of instructional design from learning theories. But such design principles are often difficult to apply to particular instructional issues. A new method for relating research on learning to instructional design is proposed. Different ways of teaching a particular topic can be evaluated by teaching that topic to a simulation model of learning, and recording the complexity of the resulting learning processes. An application of this method to a traditional problem in mathematics education suggests that conceptual instruction in arithmetic causes more cognitive strain than mechanical instruction, contrary to a widely held belief in the mathematics education community The advantages and disadvantages of the general method are discussed.

[1]  W. A. Brownell.  An Experiment on “Borrowing” in Third-Grade Arithmetic , 1947 .

[2]  Allen Newell,et al.  Human Problem Solving. , 1973 .

[3]  R. Glaser.  Components of a Psychology of Instruction: Toward a Science of Design , 1976 .

[4]  Joseph M. Scandura,et al.  Problem solving: A structural/process approach with instructional implications , 1977 .

[5]  F. Murray.  Acquisition of Conservation through Cognitive Dissonance. , 1977 .

[6]  J. McDermott,et al.  Production system conflict resolution strategies , 1977, SGAR.

[7]  P. Suppes.  Impact of research on education : some case studies , 1978 .

[8]  John Seely Brown,et al.  Diagnostic Models for Procedural Bugs in Basic Mathematical Skills , 1978, Cogn. Sci..

[9]  R. Glaser.  Advances in Instructional Psychology , 1978 .

[10]  James G Greeno,et al.  Some Examples of Cognitive Task Analysis with Instructional Implications , 1979, Aptitude, Learning, and Instruction.

[11]  H A Simon,et al.  The theory of learning by doing. , 1979, Psychological review.

[12]  W. Montague,et al.  Aptitude, Learning, and Instruction , 1980 .

[13]  Donald A. Waterman,et al.  Pattern-Directed Inference Systems , 1981, IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence.

[14]  Richard M. Young,et al.  Errors in Children's Subtraction , 1981, Cogn. Sci..

[15]  R. Glaser.  Instructional psychology: Past, present, and future. , 1982 .

[16]  Kurt VanLehn.  Empirical Studies of Procedural Flaws, Impasses, and Repairs in Procedural Skills. , 1982 .

[17]  Robert P. Hunting.  ALAN: A CASE STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE OF UNITS AND PERFORMANCE WITH FRACTIONS , 1983 .

[18]  Charles M. Reigeluth,et al.  The elaboration theory of instruction , 1983 .

[19]  Charles M. Reigeluth,et al.  Instructional Design Theories and Models : An Overview of Their Current Status , 1983 .

[20]  John R. Anderson,et al.  Cognitive principles in the design of computer tutors , 1984 .

[21]  Kikumi K. Tatsuoka,et al.  Analysis of Errors in Fraction Addition and Subtraction Problems. Final Report. , 1984 .

[22]  R. Lesh,et al.  Order and equivalence of rational numbers: a cognitive analysis , 1985 .

[23]  Paul S. Rosenbloom,et al.  Universal Subgoaling and Chunking , 1986 .

[24]  T. Shuell.  Cognitive Conceptions of Learning , 1986 .

[25]  S. Ohlsson.  Computer Simulation and Its Impact on Educational Research and Practice. , 1986 .

[26]  James Hiebert.  Missing Links@@@Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge: The Case of Mathematics , 1987 .

[27]  Pat Langley,et al.  A general theory of discrimination learning , 1987 .

[28]  Leonard Bolc,et al.  Computational Models of Learning , 2011, Symbolic Computation.

[29]  S. Ohlsson.  Transfer of training in procedural learning: a matter of conjectures and refutations? , 1987 .

[30]  P. Langley,et al.  Production system models of learning and development , 1987 .

[31]  Cognition Edited B Modelling.  Modelling Cognition , 1987 .

[32]  John H. Holland,et al.  Induction: Processes of Inference, Learning, and Discovery , 1987, IEEE Expert.

[33]  Joseph Psotka,et al.  Intelligent tutoring systems : lessons learned , 1988 .

[34]  Stellan Ohlsson,et al.  An Information Processing Analysis of the Function of Conceptual Understanding in the Learning of Arithmetic Procedures. , 1988 .

[35]  John P. Smith,et al.  Learning rational number , 1990 .

[36]  K. VanLehn.  Mind Bugs: The Origins of Procedural Misconceptions , 1990 .

[37]  K. VanLehn.  Rule acquisition events in the discovery of problem-solving strategies , 1991 .

[38]  Stellan Ohlsson,et al.  Adaptive search through constraint violations , 1991, J. Exp. Theor. Artif. Intell..

[39]  A. M. White.  The Process of Education , 1994 .