The Myth of the Fast Learner

Learning science experts from Carnegie Mellon University's  Human Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) wanted to know why some students learn faster than others. They hoped to identify fast learners, study them and develop techniques that could help students understand new concepts quickly. What they found was surprising: In the right conditions, people learn at a remarkably similar rate. Ken Koedinger , the Hillman Professor of Computer Science, led the research published in the  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He and his team examined data from 1.3 million student interactions from different kinds of educational technologies, including intelligent tutors, online courses and educational games. The data,  gleaned from learning science repository  DataShop , indicated that learners master new concepts by having opportunities to practice them.  "The data showed that achievement gaps come from differences in learning opportunities and that better access to such opportunities can help close those gaps," Koedinger said. "This is further confirmation that these educational technologies can provide favorable learning conditions that make it easier to learn something new, like a second language, or a scientific or math concept." If educators understand where their students are starting from, they can help students catch up to their peers by giving them more opportunities to practice the material. For example, they could incorporate a cognitive tutor that can give students instant feedback on homework problems.