Exploring the Design and Impact of Interactive Worked Examples for Learners with Varying Prior Knowledge

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Tithi, Sutapa Dey, Tian, Xiaoyi, Limke, Ally, Chi, Min, Barnes, Tiffany
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Tithi, Sutapa Dey
Tian, Xiaoyi
Limke, Ally
Chi, Min
Barnes, Tiffany
author_facet Tithi, Sutapa Dey
Tian, Xiaoyi
Limke, Ally
Chi, Min
Barnes, Tiffany
contents Tutoring systems improve learning through tailored interventions, such as worked examples, but often suffer from the aptitude-treatment interaction effect where low prior knowledge learners benefit more. We applied the ICAP learning theory to design two new types of worked examples, Buggy (students fix bugs), and Guided (students complete missing rules), requiring varying levels of cognitive engagement, and investigated their impact on learning in a controlled experiment with 155 undergraduate students in a logic problem solving tutor. Students in the Buggy and Guided examples groups performed significantly better on the posttest than those receiving passive worked examples. Buggy problems helped high prior knowledge learners whereas Guided problems helped low prior knowledge learners. Behavior analysis showed that Buggy produced more exploration-revision cycles, while Guided led to more help-seeking and fewer errors. This research contributes to the design of interventions in logic problem solving for varied levels of learner knowledge and a novel application of behavior analysis to compare learner interactions with the tutor.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_16806
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exploring the Design and Impact of Interactive Worked Examples for Learners with Varying Prior Knowledge
Tithi, Sutapa Dey
Tian, Xiaoyi
Limke, Ally
Chi, Min
Barnes, Tiffany
Human-Computer Interaction
Tutoring systems improve learning through tailored interventions, such as worked examples, but often suffer from the aptitude-treatment interaction effect where low prior knowledge learners benefit more. We applied the ICAP learning theory to design two new types of worked examples, Buggy (students fix bugs), and Guided (students complete missing rules), requiring varying levels of cognitive engagement, and investigated their impact on learning in a controlled experiment with 155 undergraduate students in a logic problem solving tutor. Students in the Buggy and Guided examples groups performed significantly better on the posttest than those receiving passive worked examples. Buggy problems helped high prior knowledge learners whereas Guided problems helped low prior knowledge learners. Behavior analysis showed that Buggy produced more exploration-revision cycles, while Guided led to more help-seeking and fewer errors. This research contributes to the design of interventions in logic problem solving for varied levels of learner knowledge and a novel application of behavior analysis to compare learner interactions with the tutor.
title Exploring the Design and Impact of Interactive Worked Examples for Learners with Varying Prior Knowledge
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.16806