Iqbal, Arif Mahmud; (2003) Evaluation of computer aided instruction: Assessing the value and effectiveness of operational systems. Masters thesis (M.Phil), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This thesis investigated a number of performance measures for computer-aided instruction (CAI) systems. These "evaluation metrics" are intended to assess the worth and value of teaching systems. An operational accounting tutor (which teaches marginal costing) was used to develop the metrics and a replication study was conducted on Application Program Tutor (a tutoring system designed to teach courses). Although, CAI is a mature technology which has evolved in a variety of fields and forms since the 1950s, its potential remains untapped. Factors attributed to this include resistance from teachers, lack of student involvement in design, and insufficient imagination in curriculum design. Inadequate system standards and a deficiency of good software tools, lack of documentation, maintenance and education value have also been key limiting factors. The overall picture seems akin to a cottage industry than a co-ordinated enterprise. Evaluation is significant, to developers and users in this field, because in the short-term it improves the usability and life-span of the numerous systems that have been developed and in the long-term it focuses attention (away from the impetus to deliver) towards issues of appropriateness and quality in system design. Different traditions of evaluation are explored, including the selection criteria used in educational technology and the impact of the quality philosophy on software engineering. This research was conducted using the Before-after Two-group design on forty-two accountancy students, where a conventionally taught group was compared with the accountancy tutor group. Performance on a number of marginal (or variable) costing problems was measured before and after both groups were taught. Moreover, the experimental group was given a questionnaire to complete (which was designed to capture their assessment of the system). The results derived from the well- crafted questionnaire were indicative of the systems strengths and weaknesses and supplied useful criteria for future research.

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