The multimedia computer is a relatively new product that is capable of presenting information through a variety of media such as text, animation, video & sound. Commercial developers, researchers and other multimedia advocates have been making claims about the potential for multimedia in promoting learning and, consequently, its beneficial uses as a learning tool within the classroom. This study investigates the conditions under which the organization and coordination of multimedia sources promotes the acquisition of knowledge. Based upon a review of the literature, five hypotheses are generated with respect to the development of instructional software as an effective learning tool. These hypotheses are then tested in a study that looks at the effects of various multimedia designs. One hundred students, half of high-ability (i.e., high-stream) and the other half of average ability (i.e., regular stream), were assigned to one of five multimedia conditions (e.g., text only (T); text with animation (TA); text with animations and captions (TAC); animations and captions (AC); refined animation and captions (RAC)). The instructional material presented information on how to find South using two sticks, some string and the Sun. The TAC and RAC groups outperformed the other three groups on scores of verbal recall, visual recall, and enactment of the main procedures. These two groups also obtained higher scores on detailed analyses of written recalls. Finally, interaction effects for stream level and computer presentation group were also obtained. The results from this study are contrasted to those of an earlier study by Breuleux et al. (1993). The implications of these results are discussed in terms of statistical support for theoretically based guidelines for the development and design of effective instructional multimedia.

No description available.

No description available.

This study examined the effects of three computer-assisted cuing programs on the observational learning of a Tai Chi action sequence by thirty-one novice adult learners. Digital video demonstrations with visual cues, verbal cues, and both visual and verbal cues as well as no cues were presented. On the first and fifth trial participants completed a cognitive resequencing task, and on each of five learning trials attempted to physically perform the sequence. A retention test was also administered. The Pictorial Cognitive Resequencing Task results were somewhat equivocal as some of the treatment programs facilitated enhanced performance but participants in the "control" group also improved their performance. Physical performance as measured by the Technical Action Score and the Flow Action Score showed that the "visual and verbal treatment" group significantly improved performance in comparison to the "control" group. Based on the results and post-test interviews suggestions for future research were presented.

This study proposed to answer research questions about the efficacy of using computer-assisted instruction (CAI) to augment kindergarten emergent reading skills. Five assessment instruments were used to measure kindergarten students' emergent reading skills. In this quasi-experimental design (experimental school vs. control school), repeated measures were used (pretest and posttest). Change scores (posttest minus pretest) were calculated to run analyses. Morrow's Story Retelling was significant for the experimental group, p=.006. The Woodcock-Johnson Passage Comprehension (WJPC) subtest was significant for the interaction of group and type of kindergarten program, p=.005, meaning more children in full day programs and using CAI were reading and understanding passages. Unrelated to the hypotheses that were tested, the Phonological Awareness Test (PAT) was significant for culture, p=.006. Post Hoc results demonstrated significance between white students and English Language Learners (ELL) on the PAT, p=.003. The Concepts About Print Test was not found to be significant. No significances were found for the Woodcock-Johnson Letter/Word Identification subtest, either. In conclusion, CAI did have a positive impact on several measures of emergent reading skills. A Home Literacy Survey was completed by the parents of all participants. This survey provided extensive information about the type and frequency of literacy activities done in the students' homes to answer the research question concerning the value of home literacy activities in preparation for formal schooling. Significance was found for pretest scores on the WJPC, p=.004. The results were significant for Morrow's Story Retelling for change scores, p=.005. Conclusions can be drawn that literacy activities done in the home before coming to school do have an impact on reading/listening comprehension as measured by the WJPC and Morrow's Story Retelling. Finally, teachers in the experimental school were asked their opinions about CAI. They unanimously agreed that CAI was beneficial to students, especially low performing students. But reservations included the loss of class time to do computer lessons and the availability of a variety of CAI programs. There were also several complaints directed at the PLATO program examined in this study. The program was not user friendly for kindergarten children to operate independently, and there were reliability problems.College of Architecture / Department of Elementary Education

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No description available.

This investigation comprised two studies aimed at identifying the relationship, if any, between beliefs about the formal or functional nature of learning English as a foreign language and learning behaviour in a vocabulary learning computer environment. Two measurement tools were developed.A questionnaire was developed to measure beliefs of a general nature about the task of learning a foreign language, definition of the formal functional components of language learning activities, and beliefs about the efficacy of the same language activities. This was done to observe the correlations, if any, between formal-functional bias in general beliefs and preferences for specific activities which respondents have previously defined in formal-functional terms. A hypertext program was also developed. This program consisted of vocabulary learning materials with code built into the programming which recorded user interaction in log files. Using the logged data, general beliefs and beliefs about the efficacy of language learning activities could then be compared with preference for inductive and deductive learning, passive and productive practice, and effort invested in the task as measured by the number of screens accessed and time spent on the task. The two studies making up the investigation consisted of a pilot study to test the questionnaire and a main study, combining the questionnaire and software. The Main Study was done in four stages with the first three stages being used to pilot the software and the final stage functioning as the source of data on subject behaviour. Questionnaire data was compared with the logged data and post-hoc interviews served to triangulate the logged data. A qualitative analysis of subject behaviour in the computer environment was also carried out. Main findings for questionnaire data were that formal-functional bias in general beliefs may be related to preference for formal or functional activities. Beliefs regarding knowledge of target language culture or learning context may be more closely related to formal-functional preferences than beliefs regarding grammar or vocabulary. Regarding correlational relationships with logged data, beliefs appeared to be less important than prior knowledge of target vocabulary. Subjects showed a consistent pattern of variation of preferences according to level of prior knowledge while effort invested showed a bellshaped curve with increasing prior knowledge. Formal-Functional biases in general beliefs had correlational relationships with effort invested, but the direction of the relationships varied according to the belief. Main conclusions were that the pattern of interaction suggested subjects were acting autonomously. In exercising this autonomy, they were influenced by their beliefs, but level of prior knowledge of the task was more important in determining how they learned or practiced the target vocabulary. Regarding pedagogical implications, it was argued that the formal-functional distinction has little pedagogical value in terms of understanding language learners. Finally, it was concluded that this research has shown that language learners' metacognitive knowledge of the task of language learning is a resource which teachers ignore at their peril.

Thesis (M. P. A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2004. / "Fall 2004." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-96).

Project (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Instructional Psychology and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-96).