DESCRIPTORS Analysis_of Variance; *Cognitive_DovelOpment;

Vlis study aimed at finding the optimal condition of written instruction and online practice for learning a new computer application. Subjects were 44 undergraduate and graduate students and university staff members. Those in the experimental group learned commands_for an_electronic spreadsheet by reading user-manual descriptions_and working training problems online. Training problems were varied in order to_control_how much independent problem solving subjects engaged in_while learning any_given commandi and the forms of practice included pure_guided practicei pure problem solving practicei and mixed practice. Spacing of the training problems was also manipulatd. Subjects_in the_control group read the same text and studied the same training problems4 but were not permitted to type anything at the keyboard during the training session; After a 2-day_delay1 _subjects in both groups solved new problems on th