Carroll model of school learning

Draft

Definition

• In 1993, John Carroll proposed a model for school learning. Learning was defined as function of efforts spent in relation to efforts needed. Most of the model is time based.

• According to Huitt ([1]): “{{{1}}}”. (DSchneider believes that this definition does not capture the full model).

The Model

According to Reeves (1997) Carrol's model include six elements with one output variable, one input variable and 4 intermediate variables.

• Academic Achievement is the output (as measured by various sorts standard achievement tests)

• Aptitude is the main explanatory variable defined as the "the amount of time a student needs to learn a given task, unit of instruction, or curriculum to an acceptable criterion of mastery under optimal conditions of instruction and student motivation" (Carroll, 1989: 26). This definition of aptitude very much reminds the principle behind mastery learning. "High aptitude is indicated when a student needs a relatively small amount of time to learn, low aptitude is indicated when a student needs much more than average time to learn" (Carrol: 1989: 26).

• Opportunity to learn: Amount of time available for learning within the curriculum or other contexts. Carrol (1998:26) notes that "frequently, opportunity to learn is less than required in view of the students aptitude.

• Ability to understand instruction: relates to learning skills and language comprehension.

• Quality of instruction: good instructional design, e.g. like it is usually defined in behaviorist frameworks like nine events of instruction. If quality of instruction is bad, time needed will increase.

• Perseverance: Amount of time a student is willing to spend on a given task or unit of instruction. This is an operational and measurable definition for motivation for learning.

Links

Huitt, Overview of Classroom Processes / Carroll's Model of School Learning, HTML (retrieved 16:42, 23 May 2006 (MEST)).

References

• Carroll, J. B. (1968). On learning from being told. Educational Psychologist, 5, 4-10.

• Carroll, J. B. (1963). A model of school learning. Teachers College Record, 64, 723-733.

• Carroll, J. B. (1989), The Carroll Model: A 25-Year Retrospective and Prospective View, Educational Researcher HTML/Bitmap (restricted access).

• Reeves, TC, & Reeves, PM (1997). A model of the effective dimensions of interactive learning on the World Wide Web. PDF. (This paper provides a good introduction to the Carroll Model and adds its own [[Reeves model of WWW-based learning).