Development and evaluation of computer-based self-study materials using multimedia.

Cooper, Valerie

Abstract

Advances in technology such as increased Internet access and digital multimedia provide opportunities for developing innovative teaching and learning materials. Learning theory supports the use of computer-based learning materials in providing flexible access to self-study materials, which can be tailored to the needs of specific courses and may appeal to students with a wide range of learning styles. There is some evidence to support the use of these technologies in facilitating learning, but evaluations apply only to specific learning materials in the environment in which they were tested. Students of Health Sciences need access to clinically-relevant self-study materials that allow for feedback, and which facilitate understanding and application of knowledge. Identification of potential areas where computer-based resources can be used to support students' self-study has informed the development of three differently-focussed computer-based self-study packages. The Movement Analysis, Manual Therapy and Stroke packages were developed using the assessment software "Questionmark Perception" and linked video clips. These packages were integrated into the modules they were designed to support and evaluated by the different groups of Health Science students taking these modules. The evaluation comprised: a) a questionnaire about students' attitudes, and b) the use of tracking data from the Manual Therapy and Stroke packages to monitor students' activity with the packages. Students exhibited positive attitudes towards all the packages, the Stroke package format proving the most popular. Although the MSc (pre-registration) physiotherapy student group found the Manual Therapy and Stroke packages beneficial, they were significantly less positive towards different features of these packages. Otherwise, no significant differences were found between different course groups, ages and genders of students using these packages. Analysis of the tracking data revealed significant positive correlations between the amount of times students accessed the packages, and their improvement in self-study scores for both the Manual Therapy and Stroke packages. The time spent using the packages and students' self-study scores for the Manual Therapy package were also significantly positively correlated. Correlations between student access and test score were not significant. In conclusion, these packages provide appropriate and effective self-study materials for the groups of students studied. Development and updating of these and similar packages should be continued. Further research is required to evaluate their effects with larger samples of students, and to further investigate the relationship between package use and test scores.

Citation

COOPER, V. 2006. Development and evaluation of computer-based self-study materials using multimedia. Robert Gordon University, PhD thesis. Hosted on OpenAIR [online]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-1688431

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 17, 2022
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-1688431
• Keywords: Virtual learning environments; Online learning; Online educational resources; Health sciences education; Health sciences undergraduates
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1688431
• Award Date: Oct 31, 2006