Toward an Instructionally Oriented Theory of Example‐Based Learning

Renkl, Alexander

doi:10.1111/cogs.12086

Cited by 509Visual and Cognitive Learning ProcessesInnovative Teaching and Learning MethodsEducational methodologies and cognitive development

Toward an Instructionally Oriented Theory of Example‐Based Learning

Renkl, Alexander·2014·Cognitive Science

DOI 10.1111/cogs.12086

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Abstract

Learning from examples is a very effective means of initial cognitive skill acquisition. There is an enormous body of research on the specifics of this learning method. This article presents an instructionally oriented theory of example‐based learning that integrates theoretical assumptions and findings from three research areas: learning from worked examples, observational learning, and analogical reasoning. This theory has descriptive and prescriptive elements. The descriptive subtheory deals with (a) the relevance and effectiveness of examples, (b) phases of skill acquisition, and (c) learning processes. The prescriptive subtheory proposes instructional principles that make full exploitation of the potential of example‐based learning possible.

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There is very strong empirical evidence for the worked example effect.
“Although there is very strong empirical evidence for the worked example effect”
From Cognitive Architecture and Instructional Design: 20 Years Later (2019) · cites this paper as Renkl (2013)

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Authors: Renkl, A.
Affiliations: University of Freiburg (DE)
Corresponding author: Renkl, Alexander
ORCID: Renkl, Alexander
Venue: Cognitive Science
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2013-09-24
Volume: 38
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-37
ISSN: 0364-0213 (ISSN-L)
1551-6709
DOI: 10.1111/cogs.12086
OpenAlex: W1986285750
Cited by: 509
References: 165
Citations by year: 2026: 59 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 1
FWCI: 31.99
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Cognitive Science (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Educational methodologies and cognitive development
Keywords: learning from examples, worked examples, observational learning, analogical reasoning, skill acquisition, teaching principles, cognitive skill acquisition
MeSH terms: Humans, Learning, Thinking, Transfer, Psychology

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Toward an Instructionally Oriented Theory of Example‐Based Learning

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