DOES COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTION (CAI) WORK BETTER THAN TRADITIONAL TEACHING IN IMPROVING LEARNING BIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AMONG TENTH-GRADE STUDENTS?

Abstract

The present study intended to compare Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) and traditional method of teaching biological concepts to tenth class students in terms of their achievement. Microsoft PowerPoint software was utilized in CAI method to instruct students whereas the traditional method consisted of chalk & talk method with non-electronic teaching aids. The experiment was conducted on 50 students of a tenth class, divided into control and experimental group with a strength of 25 each. To compare the achievement of students Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRTs) were prepared and used before and after the instructional period. The findings revealed that there is a significant difference in means of pre-test scores and post-test scores of both groups, and when comparing post-tests of the control and experimental group, CAI has been favoured significantly in terms of achievement. Moreover, students of the CAI group overwhelmingly appreciated CAI method of teaching.