“Video split-screen technology: A data collection instrument”

PENN STATE’S Smeal College of Business Administration developed a multimedia-based independent study prototype for teaching Mathematics of Finance courses. The prototype was pilot tested and all testing sessions were videotaped so that they could be reviewed by the developers. Video recording was accomplished by mixing video signals from two cameras to create a split-screen effect where the subject was positioned in the left half of the screen and the computer screen in the right half. This technique made it easy to collect students’ physical reactions (facial expressions and body movements) and verbal reports, and to associate them with what was occurring on the computer. This process ultimately helped to improve the program and its interface and provided view of the students’ information processing.