Development and Testing of a Computer-Assisted Instructional Program to Teach Music to Adult Nonmusicians

Abstract

Two universities were selected to evaluate music fundamentals software developed for prospective nursery-school through sixth-grade teachers. Using folk songs as examples, the investigator designed computer-assisted instructional (CAI) software to supply future teachers with a repertoire of songs and related music concepts for classroom use. Subjects at the first university ( N = 148) were enrolled in a music fundamentals and performance skills course, the first of two music courses for preservice teachers. Subjects at the second university ( N = 95) were enrolled in a music methods and materials course, the only music course for preservice teachers offered at this site. A comparison of posttest scores of control (in-class lecture) and experimental (CAI) groups yielded no significant differences in either experiment. Students in both experiments thought the song examples were helpful. Furthermore, reducing class time spent with music theory allowed instructors to spend more time with other instructional tasks, potentially enabling students to improve in other performance areas.