“…This possibility is especially likely in situations where children can interact with the materials in ways that do not require the desired encoding (Uttal, O'Doherty, Newland, Hand, & DeLoache, 2009). Findings from numerous domains indicate that learners often fail to encode relevant dimensions, that inadequate encoding impairs learning, and that instructions that improve encoding of key features or relations improve learning (Alibali, 1999;Barrett, Abdi, Murphy, & Gallagher, 1993;Blaxton, 1989;Brown, Kane, & Echols, 1986;Chi, 1978;McCloskey & Kaiser, 1984;Ornstein et al, 1998;Siegler, 1976;Siegler & Chen, 1998;Staszewski, 1988). Thus, the cognitive alignment framework posits that there is a need, even with the best designed learning materials, for activities that direct learners' behaviors in ways that promote the encoding of the features relevant to the desired mental representation.…”