Computer Aided Instruction: A Study Of Student Evaluations And Academic Performance

Abstract

Computer aided instruction (CAI) encompasses a broad range of computer technologies that supplement the classroom learning environment and can dramatically increase a student’s access to information.  Criticism of CAI generally focuses on two issues: it lacks an adequate foundation in educational theory and the software is difficult to implement and use.  This paper describes the educational use of CAI in two different courses at a small, private university and the implementation and use experiences of the instructors.  One instructor used Homework Manager in Principles of Financial Accounting and the other instructor used Aplia in Principles of Microeconomics.  It is shown that the use of CAI is pedagogically effective and that currently available applications are easy to integrate into the student’s in-class experience.  The paper also reports on the impact that using CAI has on student evaluations of both the course and the instructor and on student grades.  For student evaluations, mean responses were compared on ten questions believed to be influenced by the switch from traditional homework assignments to CAI-based homework assignments.  While differences were generally in the expected direction, it could not be shown that CAI had a direct impact on student evaluations of either the course or the instructor.  For student grades, final exam grades were compared before and after the adoption of CAI.  It is shown that the use of CAI significantly increased student final exam grades.