Comparative effects of ability and presentation mode in computer-assisted instruction and programed instruction

Summary The duration of the current experiment was admittedly quite short—30 minutes to an hour of learning time. A longer program may have produced more pronounced differences. Sixty-four students including 32 high and low ability males and females were randomly assigned to programed instruction and computer-assisted instruction programs on the topic of Significant Figures. The results indicated that the students using programed instruction performed significantly better than those using CAI. This difference was attributed primarily to the very poor performance by the low ability students in the CAI group. There was also a significant ability effect. The posttest and retention test results, as well as number of errors in the actual learning sequence, indicated there was a trait by treatment interaction which was interpreted primarily as a very poor performance by low ability students on CAI, with almost equal performance by high and low ability students utilizing programed instruction. The data would not support such explanations as the use of recognition responses or the inability to achieve any particular concepts in the program for the performance of low ability students on the CRT-oriented CAI. Further research is suggested. The work reported herein was sponsored by the Florida State University Computer-Assisted Instruction Center and the Office of Naval Research under Grant No. N00014-68-A-0494.     

The effectiveness of supplemental phonics instruction employing constant time delay instruction for struggling readers

This study examined the provision of supplemental instruction using constant time delay for struggling readers who had fallen behind in developing word‐blending skills. Additionally, the study examined the utility of adding a material reward contingency to the instructional program with a contingency derived from percentile‐shaping procedures. Procedures were compared in a withdrawal design applied across blocks of letters with word blending as the target response. Participants exhibited substantial learning gains when provided constant time delay instruction in phonics skills as compared to baseline demonstrating clear experimental control. Results for the constant time delay plus reward contingency conditions were clearly differentiated from baseline but undifferentiated from the other instructional conditions. The implications of the findings for intervention for struggling readers and future research relevant to more comprehensive reading interventions are discussed.     

Improving the quality and effectiveness of computer-mediated instruction through usability evaluations

Brigham Young University's Center for Instructional Design (CID) creates online courses and multimedia instructional applications for university faculty. This paper asserts that including usability testing as a part of evaluation improves the quality and effectiveness of computer‐mediated instruction. The paper describes the fundamental purpose and functions of usability testing, and also distinguishes between different forms of evaluation: accessibility, quality assurance (QA), usability and implementation. Through a detailed case study, we describe how usability testing improved the quality of a computer‐based chemistry course and facilitated a clearer analysis of the learning effectiveness of this course.     

A quantitative cost effectiveness model for Web-supported academic instruction

This paper describes a quantitative cost effectiveness model for Web-supported academic instruction. The model was designed for Web-supported instruction (rather than distance learning only) characterizing most of the traditional higher education institutions. It is based on empirical data (Web logs) of students' and instructors' usage implementing Web-mining techniques. This will enable to quantify the costs and benefits of Web-supported instruction on both the single-course and the campus-wide levels. This paper describes the model's characteristics; the costs and benefits components in six dimensions; the computational mechanism that translates the cost and benefit components into quantitative values referring to university policymakers, instructors, and students; and its development process consists of the model design, creation of the computational mechanism and validation by instructors and students.     

Research on the effectiveness of computer-based instruction: A review

This article reviews the research on the effectiveness of computer-based instruction (CBI) conducted over the past two decades. Using student achievement as a dependent measure, research on CBI is reviewed under the headings of evaluative studies, summaries of the proportion of studies favourable and unfavourable to CBI (‘box-score reviews’) and meta-analyses. Conclusions are drawn as to the effectiveness of CBI with regard to academic and social achievement. Finally, a cost-analysis of CBI is provided.     

Comparative teaching effectiveness of radio and television

This report presents the principal findings of a study conducted for the University of Wisconsin Television Laboratory, of which Raymond J. Stanley is director, and the Wisconsin School of the Air, with the assistance of a grant- in- aid from the Educational Television and Radio Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.     

Further evidence of the effectiveness of phonological instruction with oral-deaf readers

The effectiveness of phonological instruction with 6 deaf students in an oral program was investigated. In a previous investigation (Syverud, Guardino, & Selznick, 2009), promising results had been obtained in a case study in which the Direct Instruction curriculum titled Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons (Engelmann, Haddox, & Bruner, 1983) was used with an oral-deaf child. Given these results, Syverud and Guardino were asked to replicate the procedures with additional struggling readers. A multiple case study design was implemented for a period of 10 weeks. Tests of nonsense words were administered to monitor weekly progress in phonological decoding. Intervention journals were completed for each tutoring session to provide qualitative information. Although the results were mixed, all 6 participants showed gains in phonological decoding skills. Suggestions for both practitioners and researchers are offered.     

The effectiveness of a computer-assisted instruction package in high school chemistry

The attributes of a commercial microcomputer software package were evaluated as a supplement to traditional instruction in general chemistry classes in a suburban public high school. During a unit of study of writing and naming formulas and balancing chemical equations, the experimental group received reinforcement via microcomputer while the control group used parallel worksheet exercises over a period of three weeks for concept reinforcement. Analysis of achievement scores indicated significantly higher scores among the students in the control group. In order to ascertain any possible differential effects favoring either method for students at varying cognitive development levels, the study investigated the relationship between treatment (CAI versus worksheet) and development stage; no significant interactions were discovered.     

Evaluating the effectiveness of supplemental instruction using a multivariable analytic approach

Supplemental instruction (SI) is a widely implemented peer-led academic support program. Assessments of SI's effectiveness are often confounded by student ability, achievement, motivation and demographic characteristics, and frequently limited by available resources. We modelled the impact of SI attendance on the grades, pass rates and retention of over 4000 university students. Percentage grade increases of up to 10.4% were associated with a full semester of SI attendance, and largest for males, younger students and those who had not previously engaged with the program. Furthermore, pass rates were 10% higher for full attendees. Finally, full attendance was associated with a 3% and 9% increase in the probability of reenrolling the following year for students who had and had not previously engaged, respectively. These estimates were calculated controlling for measures of ability, achievement and motivation, plus several demographic factors. Our methods can be applied to evaluate any opt-in academic support program.     

Exploring factors influencing the effectiveness of explicit instruction first and problem-solving first approaches

European Journal of Psychology of Education - Problem solving followed by explicit instruction, as suggested by productive failure and several other instructional theories, indicates long-term...     

提高独立学院思政课第二课堂教学实效性的思考

当前独立学院思政课第二课堂教学存在诸多问题,本文提出通过做好载体建设、师资力量建设、提升学生主体参与、建立科学评价体系四个方面的工作来提高思政课教学的实效性。     

Improvement of instruction and teacher effectiveness: are student ratings reliable and valid?

This paper reviews the evidence on whether student ratings are reliable and valid enough to be used for the purpose of the improvement of instruction and teacher effectiveness. A consensus of evidence available in the literature tends to show a measure of consistency, stability and validity of student ratings. Several variables such as sex of rater and ratee, class size, mood of students, rank of instructors, grades students were expecting, time of the day courses are taught, to mention only a few, have been found to have a low to high positive relationship, with student ratings. It also appears that the use of student ratings leads to the improvement of instruction, provided the evaluation data are fed back to the instructor and that an expert or consultant provides assistance to the instructor.