Students are scored in percentage points, so that these scores can be adapted to any amount of total points, or to a letter grade. Students who finish the program early are given the opportunity to use their newly gained knowledge to solve some problems for extra credit , if they so choose.
It will be important for me to use this program with all my classes. Only from student use and my direct tutoring will I be able to determine the adequacy of the information given in each frame, and where additional help in the form of 'corrective' frames will be necessary. It is important that no more than a few students get stuck in a loop and need additional assistance. Hopefully, none will.
Below is a copy of my proposal to Prof. Anderson and his response. Dear Tom I would like to write a programmed instruction lesson in Chemistry that reflects Skinner's methodology. I have not been able to find anything like this done by other people, and would like to test its efficacy with my regular Chemistry students. I anticipate that it will consist of 20 to 30 'frames' much like those of Powerpoint. However, I will be using HTML and java script coding (which I've worked out with a U of C gradstudent). Each frame will contain content information and a brief question for students to answer. A correct answer will send them forward in the lesson, but an error will send them back to a frame containing the correct answer. If this project would be appropriate for the Final Paper, let me know as soon as you can. Otherwise I will do the Classroom Discipline subject. ...reply to leonard's project idea... ...leonard...this is a very appropriate idea...the big thing,as you will remember, about programmed instruction, and frames, is what to do about feedback, primarily after mistakes...just say wrong?, say wrong, with hints?...say wrong with explanations about why they are wrong?...etc...i look forward to seeing your work...i suspect that you and your students will learn alot more about the conceptions and misconceptions of chemistry by the time you finish your project!...cheers and much success...tom...
2) The second type are Fill-In-the-Blank. You need to click in the insert box to produce a
blinking cursor and then type in your answer. Click the "CHECK MY ANSWER" button when
you're done, and don't forget to SPELL your answer correctly! If you have any problems ask your teacher for help.
This term paper is a Skinnerean programmed instructional lesson on the topic of Stoichiometry in Chemistry. The lesson is designed to be completed by most students within a 45 or 50 minute class period. It is organized to deliver information in small amounts that are followed by a question that the student must answer correctly to continue. Students are immediately informed if their answer is right, by the reinforcing stimulus of a green color change to the background. If his answer is correct, the student also advances to the next frame, and his score (at the top of the frame) goes up. If the student gives an incorrect response, the screen turns red, a negative reinforcer, and the student is sent to either a previous frame where the correct answer can be found, or to a specifically designed 'corrective' frame. The student's wrong answer is also negatively reinforced by a loss of points in his score.
Textual information is kept to a minimum in this method and questions are asked frequently. Students see their progress while they learn, and their assessment is both continuous with learning and repetitive.
Although this methodology is not unique, its use has been limited. If it works, it may be a useful addition to the curriculum by freeing teachers to do individual tutoring.
Below that is an anticipated preface for students to read, and the link to the learning program.
This place in Cyberspace will help you learn about Chemistry in a way that is exciting and fun. Unlike textbooks, which require you to read and remember a lot of unfamilar technical information, here in Cyperspace you only need to learn a few facts at a time. You'll find out right away if you have understood the subject, and you'll have fun while you learn. It's like having a your own personal tutor and EARNING POINTS at the same time!
1) The first are Multiple Choice. Just click your choice with your left mouse button.
