Learning by Preparing to Teach: Fostering Self-Regulatory Processes and Achievement During Complex Mathematics Problem Solving

We developed an intervention based on the learning by teaching paradigm to foster self-regulatory processes and better learning outcomes during complex mathematics problem solving in a technology-rich learning environment. Seventy-eight elementary students were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions: learning by preparing to teach, or learning for learning (control condition). Students' conceptualizations (task definitions) of the problem, self-regulatory processes, and mathematics achievement were then compared across the 2 conditions. To measure task definitions of the mathematics problem, students developed concept maps of the problem using a tablet application. To capture self-regulatory processes, students were asked to think out loud as they solved the problem. Results revealed that students in the learning by preparing to teach intervention developed a more detailed and better-organized concept map of the problem compared with students in the control condition. Students in the learning by preparing to teach intervention also engaged in more metacognitive processing strategies and had higher levels of mathematics problem solving achievement compared with students in the control condition. No differences were found, however, in planning and goal setting or in use of cognitive strategies across the 2 conditions. Implications of this research suggest students' initial task definitions may be a key factor in differences found when learning by teaching compared with solely learning for learning.