Applying cognitive psychology based instructional design principles in mathematics teaching and learning: introduction

Abstract

This special issue comprises contributions that address the breadth of current lines of recent research from cognitive psychology that appear promising for positively impacting students’ learning of mathematics. More specifically, we included contributions (a) that refer to cognitive psychology based principles and techniques, such as explanatory questioning, worked examples, metacognitive training, exemplification, refutational texts, multiple external representations, which are considered as well-established principles or techniques for instructional design in general, and (b) that explore, illustrate and critically discuss the available research evidence for their relevance and efficacy in the specific curricular domain of mathematics teaching and learning. The special issue ends with an interview with Paul Kirchner about the relationships between cognitive psychology, instructional design and mathematics education.