title: Building Knowledge Structures by Testing Helps Children With Mathematical Learning Difficulty.
abstract: Mathematical learning difficulty (MLD) is prevalent in the development of mathematical abilities. Previous interventions for children with MLD have focused on number sense or basic mathematical skills. This study investigated whether mathematical performance of fifth grade children with MLD could be improved by developing knowledge structures by testing using a web-based curriculum learning system. A total of 142 children with MLD were recruited; half of the children were in the experimental group (using the system), and the other half were in the control group (not using the system). The children were encouraged to use the web-based learning system at home for at least a 15-min session, at least once a week, for one and a half months. The mean accumulated time of testing on the system for children in the experimental group was 56.2 min. Children in the experimental group had significantly higher scores on their final mathematical examination compared to the control group. The results suggest that web-based curriculum learning through testing that promotes the building of knowledge structures for a mathematical course was helpful for children with MLD.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, China Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, China.
authors.forename: Yiyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, China Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, China zhou_xinlin@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xinlin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D060705:Dyscalculia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018961:Educational Technology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male
keywords: knowledge structures; mathematical learning difficulty; testing; web-based curriculum learning