The Relative Instructional Efficiency of Small Group Computer-Based Training

Abstract

Sixty-four subjects participated in three experiments which examined the relative instructional effectiveness of using small group CBT. For experiments 1 and 3, twelve subjects were assigned to either a group training condition (4 per terminal) or an individual training condition (1 per terminal). Eight subjects were assigned to one of the two training conditions in Experiment 2. The group training subjects consistently completed the courseware more quickly and with less difficulty than did the individual training condition subjects. Also, the group training subjects' learning was shown to be more resistant to forgetting. Finally, cooperative learning was prevalent with the group training subjects. This investigation thus documented the relative instructional efficiency of small group CBT for a procedural learning task.