Adaptive vs. Fixed Spacing of Learning Items:Evidence from Studies of Learning and Transfer in Chemistry Education
Abstract
Spacing presentations of learning items across time improvesmemory relative to massed schedules of practice – thewell-known spacing effect. Spaced practice can be furtherenhanced by adaptively scheduling the presentation of learningitems to deliver customized spacing intervals for individualitems and learners. ARTS - Adaptive Response-time-basedSequencing (Mettler, Massey, & Kellman 2016) determinesspacing dynamically in relation to each learner’s ongoing speedand accuracy in interactive learning trials. We demonstrate theeffectiveness of ARTS when applied to chemistry nomenclaturein community college chemistry courses by comparing adaptiveschedules to fixed schedules consisting of continuouslyexpanding spacing intervals. Adaptive spacing enhanced theefficiency and durability of learning, with learning gainspersisting after a two-week delay and generalizing to astandardized assessment of chemistry knowledge after 2-3months. Two additional experiments confirmed and extendedthese results in both laboratory and community college settings.