Learning from instructor-managed and self-managed split-attention materials

Summary: Instructor-managed physical integration of mutually dependent, but spatially separated materials, is an effective way to overcome negative effects of split-attention on learning. This study examined whether teaching students to self-manage split-attention materials would be effective for learning. Seventy-eight primary-school students learned about the water cycle, either by studying split-attention examples, integrated examples or self-managed split-attention examples. It was hypothesised that students who study instructor-integrated materials and students who study self-integrated materials would outperform students who study split-attention materials. The results showed that students learned more from instructor-integrated materials than from split-attention materials, thereby confirming the split-attention effect. The implications for future research on self-management are discussed.