Key factors affecting conceptual gains from CAL materials

This paper identifies key factors affecting conceptual gains from using a CAL package and their application to a practical laboratory class. Data was collected on over 120 first year students who studied a CAL package as an integral part of their course at two sites of a university. A variety of factors were analysed in order to identify which ones affected conceptual gains. These factors were students' biographical characteristics, design features of the CAL package and the way the CAL was integrated into the curriculum. The key factors that were identified as having an effect on conceptual gains were the students' prior academic attainment, their prior use of email, the WWW and CAL packages, and the way that the CAL package was integrated into the course. Those students, who were most successful in learning from the CAL and applying this learning, had higher academic attainment and had previously used the WWW, email and other CAL packages. They were also better at linking their study of the CAL package to other parts of the course.