چکیده (انگلیسی):

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 us ed 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.