A comparison of achievement of students in industrial arts taught by computer-assisted instruction to those taught by lecture/discussion method

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate and compare educational achievements in selected industrial arts units between groups of students taught by the computer-assisted instruction (CAI) method and those taught by the traditional teaching (lecture/discussion) method. The specific objective for the study was to measure the difference in educational achievement between two groups of junior high students in the areas of lineal measurement and oxygen-acetylene welding resulting from the two teaching methods. Tests were developed to compare the differences in achievement between two types of teaching methods; these tests were validated by a jury of experts comprised of four Industrial Arts metal shop instructors. The tests were also tested for reliability by a split-half test and the Spearman - Brown prophecy formula. Conclusions indicate that even though there was a significant difference in oxygen-acetylene welding and not in lineal measurement; it may be due to the subject area. Recommendations suggest that other subject areas such as foundry, arc welding, sheetmetal, etc., be researched using these two methods of instruction.