Instructor-Controlled versus Student-Controlled Training in a Videodisc-Based Paramedical Program

An experiment was undertaken as part of an ongoing effort to elucidate the full range of advantages and disadvantages of videodisc-based programs for training military paramedics. Instructor-controlled and student-controlled videodiscs groups were compared to each other and to a group of control students taught by traditional methods on the task of learning to administer an intramuscular injection. This task was chosen because historically it had the highest failure rate of any taught to the students. Results indicated that the objective was met of reducing instructional time with no loss in achievement; the instructor-controlled group actually saved the equivalent of one class period. Results also showed high user satisfaction with videodisc instruction.