Investigating the Effect of Advance Organizers on Learners’ Reading of Leaning Content: An Eye-Tracking Exploration

• In Event: Research Contributions to Real Learning Contexts: Shaping Ideas, Enhancing Authenticity, Providing Feedback, and Increasing Motivation

Abstract

This study utilized eye-tracking technology to gain insight into how different formats of advance organizers impact learners’ information processing patterns. Twenty-one non-science major college students participated in this study. The results showed that different styles of advance organizers were not found to affect viewers’ information processing of the learning content differently. However, echoing Mayer’s “assimilation encoding theory”, this study found advance organizers did oriented viewers’ attention toward the main concepts in the to-be-learned content and technical detail and unimportant aspects of the learning content was diminished. Using eye-tracking technology, we are able to reveal how viewers processed information in the learning content and realize in-depth how advance organizers helped viewers anchor important and filter unimportant messages in the learning content.

Authors

• Jian-Wei Li, National Chiayi University

• Han-Chin Liu, National Chiayi University

• Hsueh-Hua Chuang, National Sun Yat-Sen University

• Chi-Jen Huang, Natitional Chiayi University