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Consolidation and Transfer of Learning After Observing Hand Gesture
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Consolidation and Transfer of Learning After Observing Hand Gesture

Susan Wagner Cook, Ryan G Duffy and Kimberly M Fenn
Child development, Vol.84(6), pp.1863-1871
11/2013
DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12097
PMID: 23551027
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12097View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Children who observe gesture while learning mathematics perform better than children who do not, when tested immediately after training. How does observing gesture influence learning over time? Children (n = 184, ages = 7–10) were instructed with a videotaped lesson on mathematical equivalence and tested immediately after training and 24 hr later. The lesson either included speech and gesture or only speech. Children who saw gesture performed better overall and performance improved after 24 hr. Children who only heard speech did not improve after the delay. The gesture group also showed stronger transfer to different problem types. These findings suggest that gesture enhances learning of concepts and affects how learning is consolidated over time.

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