Effects of a computer instructional program on college students' performance in solving simple problems in mechanics

• Main Author: Corpuz, Edgar De Guzman
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Subjects: Teaching effectiveness; College students; Performance; Mechanics; Computer programs; Problem solving; Physics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1893
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study develops a software called COMPROWISE (Computer Program Using WISE Strategy) as a tool in solving simple problems in mechanics. The study involved four (4) phases: (1) development of the computer program (2) construction and validation of test instruments (3) formative evaluation of the developed computer program and (4) the evaluation of the effectiveness of the computer program in improving performance of its users in solving simple problems in mechanics. Seven physics experts and thirty selected physics major students were asked to use and evaluate the software. All rated the software highly in terms of (1) objectives (2) contents (3) problem-solving strategy used (4) problem construction (5) design characteristics (6) significance and (7) perceived effectiveness. The pretest-posttest and quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the software in improving the problem solving performance of the college students. Math ability and conceptual understanding were considered to ensure that the mental aptitude of the participants would not affect the results of the experiment. The study revealed the following: (1) The mean of the posttest scores of students who used COMPROWISE as an exercise is significantly higher as compared to the mean of their pretest scores and (2) Those students who used the COMPROWISE as an exercise performed significantly better than those students who used the traditional exercise in solving simple problems in mechanics.