Enhancing motor learning through peer tutoring.
The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of incorporating mnemonic memory aids and having a subject teach another person a given task (peer tutoring) as a method of enhancing task acquisition and recall by the subject and to discuss the implications for occupational therapists who instruct clients in motor tasks such as therapeutic exercise programs. Sixty-seven college students were randomly assigned to one of three groups using different teaching methods for the purpose of learning a motor task, specifically the American Sign Language alphabet. Subjects who were taught using mnemonics and peer tutoring scored significantly better on post-testing two days following instruction than did the control groups. Use of these techniques did not increase direct teaching time by the instructor, nor did they incur additional costs. Thus, these techniques may be easily incorporated into client education to improve recall and performance.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine.
Judy R
JR
Feinberg
Sarah J
SJ
Elkington
Kimberly A
KA
Dewey
Dawn M
DM
Dzielawa
Nicky L
NL
Hayden
Staci L
SL
Blankenship
Christopher M
CM
Nahrwold
Jennifer L
JL
Smith