A computer-aided learning project for first year psychology students

Concern about increasing failure rates of introductory psychology students on their final (multiple-choice) exam, led to the implementation of a computer-based learning system to complement existing teaching and learning methods. One hundred and twenty eight Swinburne, Lilydale students completed fortnightly sets of content-related questions, drawn from the designated textbook and uploaded to a WebCT program---a fully integrated eLearning environment. For each set, students were required to achieve at least 50% (correct on 10+ of the 20 items) before continuing to the next set, requiring them to review text/lecture materials until they achieved 50% + for each set. Final exam results for 2000 students (the eLearning group) were compared to final exam results for the 1999 cohort (non-eLearninggroup). The results suggest that student performance improved on the final multiple-choice exam in 2000, compared to 1999 results. While the benefits of a supplementary/complementary eLearning program show promise for improving student learning, continuing longitudinal research is proposed (and underway) to substantiate these preliminary trends.