A Test of the Effectiveness of the Low-First Spaced Learning Method with CAI

Abstract

In the research of CAI systems for individual instruction, various devices to select items for sub-sequent presentation according to individuals' answer have been developed. However, most of them can only be used with learning materials which have systematic or hierarchical structures. This study aims at proposing and testing a new spaced learning method which can be used for materials without such structures. The method is called "the Low-First Method", and is derived from psychological findings relating to the cause of spacing effects based on the change of human memory activity. The Low-First Method is based on the following two principles : (a) sorting all the items at the end of each learning session by their weighted cumulative recall rates (P_ns) in ascending order for the subsequent session ; (b) omitting items whose P_ns have reached a certain level. In the experiment, 24 participants learned HTML using a CAI with a mere repetition method and that with the Low-First Method. The results showed that the Low-First Method was not only more effective but also more efficient than the mere repetition method.