Building Expertise: Cognitive Methods for Training and Performance Improvement

Chapter 8. Leveraging Prior Knowledge

Prior knowledge has a large influence on student performance, explaining up to 81 percent of the variance in post-test scores.

—DOCHY, SEGERS, AND BUEHL, 1999

IN THIS CHAPTER,

I describe the role of prior knowledge in learning and summarize some instructional methods proven to make the most of learner prior knowledge. I recommend the following three approaches to be applied prior to presenting the main lesson content:

• For learners likely to have prior knowledge related to your lesson content, use methods to activate it.

• For learners unlikely to have relevant prior knowledge related to your lesson content, use methods that will supplement prior knowledge.

• For all learners, minimize the disruptive effects of activating ...