Research on the effectiveness of interactive
learning can be applied effectively. Using the
Internet causes the responsibility for learning to shift
from the teacher to the student, and has other effects,
although there are certain inhibitors
to learning on the web. This interactive
article allows discussion among readers about the
future of learning or any other topic in the article.
Research
A few years ago Congress allocated over a million dollars for research
into the effectiveness of interactive media. The Institute of Defense Analysis
produced a lengthy metastudy that analyzed over 600 research studies on
the effectiveness of interactive media. The study concluded that:
Students using interactive media learn the same amount
of material in half the time or less with equal or better understanding
and equal or longer retention than when using traditional means of instruction.
Applying Research to Practice
For the past six years at the Graduate School of Business ofthe University
of St. Thomas, we have been developing an interactive financial accounting
course with the support of a number of corporations in Minneapolis. In
addition, New College, the University's outreach to adult learners, has
developed a weekend college format in which adults capable of independent
learning spend only half the number of classroom contact hours as traditional
students during the regular program. For weekend students, class participation
is supplemented by independent study.
In the Fall of 1996, an introductory financial accounting course was taught in the weekend college format every other Friday night from 5:00 to 9:30. Students used a CD-ROM and an interactive Web site in addition to a textbook. A regular section of the same course was taught by the same professor during the day using the same textbook and class outline. Both classes took the same quizzes and tests. The students in the traditional class knew nothing about the interactive Web site or the CD-ROM, although they spent twice as many class contact hours with the instructor.
This was by no means a scientific study. No variables were controlled, and there were obviously demographic variables (what kind of student would choose to take a class on a Friday night?) and other intervening variables. However, the results of this practical experiment were very consistent with results of the scientifically controlled studies.
The students in the weekend format section using the Web site and CD-ROM did substantially better on all tests and quizzes than the traditional section. There was also a nearly perfect correlation between frequency of contributing to the Web site and their final grade based on the tests and quizzes. The more the student contributed to the Web discussion (which was available twenty-four hours a day seven days a week), the higher the student's grade.
Responsibility for Learning
We observed that the responsibility for learning shifted from the teacher
to the learner for the students in the weekend format. Students came to
the orientation session and first class or two with the traditional attitude,
"OK, I'm here; teach me." By the third class (about midterm), they came
to class with questions. "How does ... work?" "In the company I work for,
thus and such happened ... how does that fit in with this new concept we're
learning?" "I don't understand ..." The rapid fire lectures grew into discussions
with specific learning objectives set in the syllabus and specific objectives
each student wanted to achieve. By the end of the course, the lecture format
was almost entirely abandoned, although discussions were sometimes interrupted
by short didactic explanations of specific complex concepts.
Ever since John Dewey espoused progressive education, many teachers have attempted to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. However, the combination of less class time and the structure of the Internet caused this to happen naturally. Students realized that if they were going to learn the subject, they had to do it themselves - a very empowering motivator. The freedom actually seemed to generate responsibility.
On the other hand, the risk of embarrassment can be a motivator. Students reported that before they put a question up on the Internet, they were careful that their grammar and spelling were correct. Frequently they would check in the book or several books and often found the answer to their question. Or, in the process of framing their question, a better question occurred to them, which they posted on the Internet.
The greatest motivator for those who preferred not to participate or post questions or comments on the Internet seemed to be their grade. If a substantial percent of their grade depended on their participation in Internet discussions, the amount of participation (and their understanding of the material) increased substantially.
Interactive Contributions
to this Article
Many other discoveries and observations were
made as these learning technologies have proliferated throughout the university
during the past few years. A published example of an Interactive Virtual
Classroom can be found in Paradigm
Interactive Accounting. An unpublished example of a course in Communications
Technology can be visited while it is still in progress.
This interactive article lets you discuss its concepts online.
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EMC/Paradigm Publishing has adopted and published
the materials used at the University of St. Thomas. Instructors can visit
the Paradigm Accounting Interactive Web site at http://www.emcp.com
Instructors can also obtain a free CD-ROM demonstration disc
for Paradigm Interactive Accounting by calling (800) 535-6865. |
Sound incredible? Most of the pieces of this model are already available.
When IBM assembled its PC, it obtained the CPU from Intel, the operating
system (DOS) from what is now Microsoft, the monitor from Perceptronics,
the disk drives from Syquest, the Keyboard from Keytronics, and parts from
many other manufacturers. Henry Ford, like many individuals and companies
that "invent" revolutionary complex products, used a similar approach.
The CD-ROM and interactive Web site are just two components of the future
system. They may well be just a step along the way toward more effective
learning based instruction that will replace teaching based instruction.