A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF LECTURE AND COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING CLASSES

This paper describes a study of the differences in student learning achievement (as measured by four different types of common performance evaluation techniques) in a computer programming course under three teaching/learning environments: lecture, computer-aided instruction, and lecture supplemented with computer-aided instruction. Detailed descriptions are included of the measurement instruments used to evaluate student learning achievement. The analysis of variance, randomized blocks design, detected significant differences among treatment groups (teaching/learning environments) when student learning achievement was measured by two of the evaluation techniques. Implications of the results of this and related studies are detailed and include a consideration of student attitude toward CAI and the cost structure of CAI relative to that of the traditional lecture/discussion format.