A problem-solving based computer-assisted tutorial for the earth sciences

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a Problem-Solving based Computer-Assisted Tutorial (PSCAT) on earth science achievement and attitudes toward earth science of tenth graders (16-year olds) in a senior high school in Taiwan. A total of 137 students who were enrolled in four earth science classes participated in this pre-test/post-test control-group experiment. The experimental groups received the PSCAT; whereas the comparison groups received a Lecture-Internet-Discussion (LID) teaching approach. A multivariate analysis of covariance on the post-test scores of the Earth Science Achievement Test and Attitudes Toward Earth Science Inventory, with students' pre-test scores as the covariates, suggested that PSCAT produced (almost) significantly greater gains on students' earth science achievement than did the LID approach and that no statistically significant increase or decrease in student attitudes toward earth science was found for either group.