Mixed content vs. individual content study

MIXED CONTENT VS. INDIVIDUAL CONTENT STUDY

Manasi Vartak, Cristina Heffernan, Neil Heffernan

Objective

Do students learn better when related concepts are taught: Separately (Not Mixed) Simultaneously (Mixed)

Example: Should mean, median, mode, range be taught separately or simultaneously?

Can deeply affect future teaching patterns

Study

Topic: Data Analysis – Mean, Median, Mode, Range (MMMR)

Important topic; useful through school and college

Students often confused about differences in MMMR

Find best way to teach MMMR

Half of the class is taught concepts separately, other half is taught concepts simultaneously

Study

Single problem set Pre-test Study problems

Mixed: Single Mastery Learning set with mean, median, mode and range problems in random order

Not Mixed: 4 separate Mastery Learning sets, one each for mean, median, mode and range respectively

Post-test

Sample Assistments

Mean Problems

Sample Assistments

Median problems

Sample Assistments

Mode problems

Sample Assistments

Range problems

Things you should know

Comprehensive set of problems on MMMR

Single problem set Students in neither problem set are at a

disadvantage; they learn the same concepts

May take longer than traditional problem sets; can be completed over several days

Insight into best way to teach related concepts