L. Kneppers

Conceptual learning in relation to near and far transfer in the secondary school subject of economics

In this study we investigated the effects of two treatments supplementing students’ (16 to 18 years of age and in pre-university education) regular course in economics. One treatment, labelled concept treatment, aimed at the solidification of the students’ knowledge about economic concepts and their interrelations. The other treatment, labeled context treatment, aimed at the solidification of the connections between economic concepts and practical contexts.The aim of the study was to find out which treatment was most effective in meeting two demands that have been made by educators and advisory boards. The first demand is that students should gain competence in analysing practical problems from an economic perspective. The second demand is that students should be prepared for transfer of what they learned in the lessons to problems that are new to them.We expected that near transfer is reached more readily than semifar transfer. This was the case for the solidification of connections between concepts and contexts. The context condition performed better. It was not the case for the solidification of the concepts which was the aim for the concept treatment. There was no difference in the results on the concept test between the two conditions. As to the assumption that a solid conceptual network is a prerequisite for far transfer, the findings are inconclusive.RésuméDans cette étude nous avons étudié les effets de deux types d’instruction, supplémentaires aux classes normales d’économie. (éléves de 16–18 ans, classes préparatoires au bac). La première instruction, du type ‘instruction Concept’ accentue le renforcement des connaissances préalables dans le domaine de l’économie, tandis que l’autre type, appelé ‘instruction Context’, mise à intensifier la relation entre certains concepts économiques et des contextes pratiques.L’objectif de la présente étude consistait à analyser l’efficacité de ces deux types d’instruction. L’expérience devait démontrer laquelle des deux instructions serait la plus efficace pour bien répondre à deux questions posées par les enseignants et par les organismes consultatifs.La première question servait à mesurer s’il y avait une augmentation de la compétence analytique des éléves en ce qui concerne des problèmes pratiques économiques. La deuxième question servait à voir si les élèves étaient préparés à transférer leurs connaissances économiques à des problèmes jusque-là inconnus.Nous nous attendions à ce que le transfert proche serait plus facile que le transfert semi-lointain. Cela était le cas pour le renforcement des relations entre les concepts et les contextes: l’instruction ‘Contexte’ rendait plus de réponses correctes. Mais ce n’était pas le cas pour l’instruction ‘Concept’ qui avait comme objectif d’intensifier les concepts économiques. Il n’y avait aucune différence entre les deux conditions quant aux résultats du test ‘Concept’.Cette étude n’a donc pas confirmé notre hypothèse qu’un réseau conceptuel solide est une condition indispensable pour le transfert lointain.

Learning from static versus animated pictures of embodied knowledge: A pilot study on reconstructing a ballet choreography as concept map

In a research study we investigated whether static or animated pictures better support learning of abstract pedagogical content about action-oriented learning. For that purpose, we conducted a study with two experimental groups. One group received a narration about learning theory and a supporting series of static pictures, the other a narration and animated pictures. As pictures we used ballet positions so that both static pictures, and animations display a ballet choreography. Ballet positions are specific pictures which show embodied abstract knowledge. Students were requested to reconstruct the content of the choreography as concept map. In addition, students completed a transfer test answering open questions. Both concept maps and answers to open questions were analyzed using content analysis procedures and were subsequently scored. The results do not show significant differences between the groups. Static pictures can be as effective as animation in promoting learning.

The Road to Transfer: Concept and Context Approaches to the Subject of Economics in Secondary School

In this study we investigated the effects of two forms of instruction: strengthening concepts and strengthening the ability to connect context with concepts. The aim of this study was to find out what contributes most to the ability to transfer: strengthening conceptual knowledge or strengthening the making of connections. Some 139 students of the pre-final year of pre-university education participated in an experiment with two conditions and with a pre-test and a post-test. All students performed significantly better on the post-test in which conceptual knowledge was measured compared to the pre-test. No significant differences were measured between the two instructions on the post-test on transfer.