MIXED CONTENT VS. INDIVIDUAL CONTENT STUDY Manasi Vartak, Cristina Heffernan, Neil Heffernan

Objective  Do students learn better when related concepts are taught:  Separately (Not Mixed)  Simultaneously (Mixed)  Example: Should mean, median, mode, range be taught separately or simultaneously?  Can deeply affect future teaching patterns

Study  Topic: Data Analysis – Mean, Median, Mode, Range (MMMR)  Important topic; useful through school and college  Students often confused about differences in MMMR  Find best way to teach MMMR  Half of the class is taught concepts separately, other half is taught concepts simultaneously

Study  Single problem set  Pre-test  Study problems Mixed: Single Mastery Learning set with mean, median, mode and range problems in random order Not Mixed: 4 separate Mastery Learning sets, one each for mean, median, mode and range respectively  Post-test

Sample Assistments Mean Problems

Sample Assistments Median problems

Sample Assistments Mode problems

Sample Assistments Range problems

Things you should know  Comprehensive set of problems on MMMR  Single problem set  Students in neither problem set are at a disadvantage; they learn the same concepts  May take longer than traditional problem sets; can be completed over several days  Insight into best way to teach related concepts