Abstract

Empirical studies have shown that learners experience major difficulties in applying effective strategies when they deal with complex and authentic problem-oriented learning en-vironments. Two experimental studies were conducted in the field of medical education in order to explore possibilities of fostering the use of domain-specific and control strategies by providing learners with different forms of strategy modeling. Study 1 analyzed the effects of modeling by articulations of an expert on the use of domain-specific and control strategies. In study 2 we investigated the effects of strategy modeling with expert maps on strategy use. Sixty advanced medical students participated in these studies. Main findings are, that modeling by articulations as well as modeling with expert maps positively influenced the learners use of domain-specific and control strategies. Moreover, it could be shown that the use of domain-specific strategies is positively correlated with diagnostic competence of advanced medical students. A main conclusion is, that strategy modeling by experts is an effect-ive way to foster learners' mindful engagement in problemoriented learning environments