Using worked examples to improve student understanding of atmospheric dynamics

Abstract

The worked examples pedagogy is an instructional approach that has proven to be effective in reducing cognitive load, thus allowing for more effort to be put into developing deeper long-term memory and understanding. Worked examples were constructed for each concept ad-dressed in the two-semester atmospheric dynamics course sequence at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and implemented during the spring and fall semesters in 2017 and 2018. A flipped classroom approach was used, where students were required to The worked examples pedagogy is an instructional approach that has proven to be effective in reducing cognitive load, thus allowing for more effort to be put into developing deeper long-term memory and understanding. Worked examples were constructed for each concept addressed in the two-semester atmospheric dynamics course sequence at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and implemented during the spring and fall semesters in 2017 and 2018. A flipped classroom approach was used, where students were required to complete one to two examples and read the associated section of the textbook before each class period to familiarize themselves with the applications of a particular concept. In-class time was then primarily used to discuss the assigned example(s) and work on additional problems, diving deeper with other applications and theory.