The Benefit of Errors

Abstract

The cognitive load theory by Sweller (1988) describes the limitations of the working memory capacity. In his book 'Cognitive Load` (2011) Sweller described the many effects on workload. One of them is collective working memory effect, which refers to the phenomenon that individuals obtain higher learning outcomes when working collaboratively than when working alone. For this thesis, first a literature study was conducted concerning cognitive load. Thereupon, an experiment was designed to research the working memory effect in a computerized environment with a remote virtual student. This experiment is inspired by the research by Kirschner et al. (2009) on the effects of individual versus group learning with a transfer test-performance in the domain of biology. A pre-study was conducted to explore if the design was suitable. It is hypothesized that a group with a needy virtual student will outperform a group with a normal virtual student due to deeper processing of information by discussion, argumentation and reflection of the material. Measurement of cognitive load and performance was used to measure the efficiency of the tasks. The results of the pre-study are inconclusive, because no significant difference could be found between the groups. Therefore, recommendations for a full experiment are proposed. Results from a full experiment might be of further use in the artificial intelligence branch to help create software that can aid with the learning process of humans.