EVALUATION OF COMPUTER-ASSISTED-INSTRUCTION METHODS - AN ANALYSIS FROM 26 STUDIES FROM 1989 TO 1992

Information and knowledge processing technologies have contributed to the development of Computer assisted instruction (CAI) applications. M ultimedia technologies will increase the possibilities of these progra mmes in the future. However the evaluation of the software as well as the other technologies is necessary. The authors have tried to quantif y the contributions of CAI analysing the literature referenced in MEDL INE from 1989 to 1992. On the 470 papers indexed with the key-word ''C omputer Assisted Instruction'', 56 studies take evaluation into accoun t. Only 26, that is 5.5 %, presented a clear and explicit methodology of evaluation. On the 26 studies, 16 were considered with positive res ult and among these, 6 presented a statistical significance. The condi tions and the criteria of the evaluation studies do not permit a meta analysis. Is is necessary to develop standardized evaluation criteria to estimate the quantitative and qualitative impact of the CAI technic s on the educational process and their own pedagogical contribution.