Have you attended a course or training session where you already knew the content? Did you find yourself checking out and not following closely? This is a natural response of your long-term memory preserving itself against unnecessary change. This experience is called the Expertise Reversal Effect and it is one of the most interesting and important theories about learning.
First discovered by Slava Kalyuga, the Expertise Reversal Effect is based on the negative consequences of guided instruction on experienced learners. According to Kalyuga, teaching experienced learners material they already know generates neutral or negative results. In some cases, learner performance on assessments decreased. There are cases where high performing students begin to regress when forced to relearn content they have already mastered.
The Expertise Reversal
Effect contradicts many previously held notions about the benefits of guided
instruction. Professors, teachers, and trainers are taught guided instruction
is inherently beneficial for learners. Evaluation of teaching effectiveness is
rooted in models based entirely on the benefits of guided instruction. The
Expertise Reversal Effect reinforces the importance of self-directed learning.
This approach requires educators to develop activities to encourage higher
order thinking.
The central concept of the
Expertise Reversal Effect indicates how pre-assessment is required to differentiate between
novice and expert learners. Novice learners require higher levels of guided instruction
to fortify content in their long-term memory. Expert learners require increased
levels of self-guided instruction to expand their knowledge base.
The Expertise Reversal
Effect has been studied extensively in the classroom; however, I think there
are wider implications that extend to the entire institution. Faculty and trainer evaluation needs to assess both teaching effectiveness and learner performance. Program
developers and instructional designers need to eliminate redundancy in programs
and courses. Educational institutions should refine prior learning assessments
to ensure high performers are placed in the proper stream.
https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/expertise-reversal-effect/25732
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15326985EP3801_4
Expertise reversal effect - Wikipedia