A Comparison of Traditional Classroom Instruction and Anchored Instruction with University General Education Students

Abstract

The effects of a traditional instruction format and an anchored instruction format on the immediate and long-term acquisition of knowledge of 100 university general education majors was examined. Participants were administered multiple-choice and essay format pre-tests, post-tests, and follow-up tests. Results revealed somewhat different within group patterns as well as important between group patterns. Both groups performed better on the post-test and follow-up test than on the pre-test. No differences between the two groups on the post-test were recorded. The anchored instruction group outperformed the traditional instruction group on the multiple-choice follow-up test and the traditional instruction group outperformed the anchored instruction group on the essay follow-up test. Implications for future research are discussed.