Experiencing the Testing Effect to Increase the Use of Self-Testing

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Self-Directed Learning, Motivation, and Metacognition

Abstract

The testing effect - more long-term knowledge by self-testing as compared to restudy - is a well-known phenomenon to optimize learning. However, self-testing is less popular than restudy. One of the reasons is that students cannot experience the benefits of self-testing. In this study, we therefore let students experience the benefits of self-testing by giving performance feedback about their long-term learning to increase the frequency of using self-testing. We found that students who got a higher score by testing themselves chose more self-testing in the following study phase. Feedback helped students to appreciate the benefits of self-testing, but only when a testing effect was observed.
Keywords: self-testing, feedback, testing effect, mental effort, effort beliefs

Author

• Luotong Hui, Maastricht University