Instructional Science

Teacher training often incorporates observable examples of focal teaching practices – models. Yet there is currently little empirical evidence on the effects of modelling. We tested the effects of video models on trainees’ skills, knowledge, and self-efficacy in relation to using an evidence-based teaching technique: retrieval practice. We recruited 89 first-year trainee teachers, gave them a document containing evidence-based guidance on how to use retrieval practice and then collected pre-test data on how well they were able to do this in a classroom simulator scenario. Participants were then randomised them to one of three groups: an active control group in which they restudied the document (no model), a video model of effective practice, or a similar video model annotated with the underpinning theory. We then collected post-test data in a second simulator exercise. Exposure to video models improved participants’ use of retrieval practice methods relative to no model. However, adding the annotation to the models did not yield additional benefits. Models did not improve teachers’ knowledge or self-efficacy. Findings support the theory that incorporating models in initial teacher training can help new teachers make use of evidence-based teaching practices.

Seductive details, which are interesting but irrelevant digressions included in a learning environment (e.g., fun facts), have been shown to impair the learning performance of students. However, to date, it is unclear whether the amount of seductive detail content is crucial for the extent of this detrimental effect, or whether it is more a phenomenon of presence or absence, as other studies have been inconclusive in this regard. Hence, in the present studies (N = 191 and N = 101), learners were presented with a varying amount of seductive detail content embedded within a learning text. Instead, the number of text interruptions by seductive content was kept constant between conditions. Both studies consistently showed a linear negative effect of the seductive detail amount on recall performance. Furthermore, Study 2 indicated a polynomial trend regarding transfer performance, suggesting that small seductive detail amounts could improve transfer, even though cross-validation showed that this model is rather unstable. Prior knowledge and working memory capacity did not significantly attenuate the seductive details effect. The results imply that the extent of the seductive detail effect is dependent on the amount of seductive detail content presented. Especially the inclusion of large amounts of digressions should be avoided by teachers and instructional designers, while the inclusion of small amounts might have rather negligible effects.