Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
365741 Learning and Instruction 2006 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

The potential impact of implicit learning on education has been repeatedly stressed, though little research has examined this connection directly. The current paper describes two experiments that, inspired by artificial grammar learning experiments, examine the utility of implicit learning as a method for teaching atomic bonding rules to 11–12 year old school children. Two groups were given tasks that led to explicit rule learning; two other groups were given tasks that did not lead to rule learning; and a control group was trained on irrelevant stimuli. We observed an implicit learning effect, but learning was much more effective when more explicit ways of teaching were employed. These findings suggest that mere exposure to regular material is not sufficient for effective learning of rules, and that an explicit approach to instruction is advisable.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Psychology Developmental and Educational Psychology
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