Path effects

Path effects. Given that a student has gone down a particular path, what are the effects on the student’s knowledge? Does this path tend to cause immediately detectable gains? Robust learning? Does this tell us anything in general about what kinds of paths are effective?

Example:

Start

1. Student applies a shallow strategy, e.g., guessing or copying from a hint.
   1. The entry is correct 􀃆 Exit, with little learning
   2. The entry is incorrect and the tutor gives a hint => Start
2. The student tries to apply a deep strategy (and the tutor requires typed, abstract

directions):

1. 1. The entry is correct 􀃆 Exit, with learning
   2. The entry is incorrect and the tutor gives a hint => Start
2. The student tries to apply a deep strategy (and the tutor requires drawn, concrete

directions):

1. 1. The entry is correct 􀃆 Exit, with learning
   2. The entry is incorrect and the tutor gives a hint => Start

The learning that occurs via path 2.1 involves typing the important concept “opposite to the motion/velocity.” This may strengthen the student’s memory of the knowledge component. On the other hand, the learning that occurs via path 3.1 involves a visual-motor instantiation of the conceptual knowledge, namely the drawing of a concrete vector. This dual coding may strengthen the student’s memory of the knowledge component. It is not clear which path produces more robust learning of the knowledge component. It would be interesting to find out.