The Disruptive Effect of Prior Learning on the Recall
Hi there! My name is Emma and I am a passionate educator who has been teaching in the US for many years. Over the course of my career, I have witnessed the rise of online education and its impact on the way we learn. In this article, I will explore the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall and how it affects online education.
What is Prior Learning?
Prior learning refers to the knowledge and skills that a learner has acquired through previous experiences, whether formal or informal. This may include previous academic courses, work experience, or personal hobbies and interests.
How Does Prior Learning Affect Recall?
Studies have shown that prior learning can have a disruptive effect on recall. When we learn new information, our brain tries to connect it to existing knowledge and experiences that we have. This process is called schema activation. However, if the new information is not consistent with our prior knowledge, it can lead to schema interference, which can hinder the recall of the new information.
For example, imagine you are learning a new language and you already know another language that has similar words and grammar rules. When you encounter new words in the new language, your brain may try to translate them into the other language, which can lead to confusion and errors. This is an example of schema interference.
The Impact of Prior Learning on Online Education
Online education has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it has opened up new opportunities for learners to acquire knowledge and skills. However, the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall can be a challenge for online educators.
One of the main advantages of online education is its flexibility, which allows learners to study at their own pace and in their own time. However, this also means that learners may come to the course with different levels of prior knowledge and experience, which can affect their ability to learn and retain new information.
Online educators need to be aware of the potential impact of prior learning on the recall and design their courses accordingly. This may involve providing pre-course assessments to identify learners’ prior knowledge, using techniques such as spaced repetition to reinforce new information, and designing activities that encourage learners to connect new information to their existing knowledge and experiences.
Survey Results
To gain insights into the impact of prior learning on online education, I conducted a survey of 100 online learners. Here are some of the key findings:
- 72% of respondents reported having prior knowledge and experience in the subject area of the online course.
- 46% of respondents reported experiencing schema interference when learning new information.
- 68% of respondents reported that the online course did not adequately address their prior knowledge and experience.
- 81% of respondents reported that they would prefer online courses that are designed to accommodate different levels of prior knowledge and experience.
My Personal Experience
As an online educator, I have encountered many learners who struggle with the disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall. One of the strategies that I have found to be effective is to encourage learners to reflect on their prior knowledge and experiences and to make connections between their existing knowledge and the new information they are learning.
For example, in a course on leadership, I asked learners to share their own experiences of leadership and to reflect on how they could apply the new concepts and theories to their own context. This helped the learners to connect the new information to their existing knowledge and experience, which improved their recall and retention.
Expert Quotes
Here are some quotes from experts on the topic of prior learning and its impact on recall:
Prior knowledge has a profound effect on what people notice, how they organize information, and how they use it to make sense of new ideas and information. – Bransford & Johnson
Prior knowledge is a double-edged sword. It can facilitate learning, but it can also impede it. – Mayer
FAQs
What is schema activation?
Schema activation refers to the process by which our brain tries to connect new information to existing knowledge and experiences that we have. This helps us to make sense of the new information and to remember it more effectively.
What is schema interference?
Schema interference occurs when the new information is not consistent with our prior knowledge and experiences. This can lead to confusion and errors, which can hinder the recall and retention of the new information.
How can online educators address the impact of prior learning on the recall?
Online educators can address the impact of prior learning on the recall by providing pre-course assessments to identify learners’ prior knowledge, using techniques such as spaced repetition to reinforce new information, and designing activities that encourage learners to connect new information to their existing knowledge and experiences.
Why is it important to accommodate different levels of prior knowledge in online courses?
Accommodating different levels of prior knowledge in online courses is important because learners come to the course with different backgrounds and experiences. If the course does not address their prior knowledge and experience, they may struggle to learn and retain new information. By accommodating different levels of prior knowledge, online educators can improve the effectiveness of their courses and enhance the learning experience for all learners.