Learning physics: The interplay of prior knowledge and intelligence

Researcher Christian Thurn

How does intelligence contribute to learning? It is well researched that prior knowledge in a particular area is the single best predictor of future learning. This prior knowledge provides connecting points for the new learning material. Yet, learners differ not only in their prior knowledge, but also in their cognitive abilities. The relationship between prior knowledge and cognitive abilities is not yet fully understood and is therefore the subject of several ongoing studies.

In this project, thanks to a unique design, we can vary the amount of prior knowledge and thus directly investigate the influence of prior knowledge and intelligence during learning in physics.