FORMS OF CONTROL AND INTERACTION AS DETERMINANTS OF LECTURE EFFECTIVENESS IN THE ELECTRONIC CLASSROOM

Electronic classrooms offer instructors and students a new way to inte ract with technology and each other. By understanding the dynamics of the classroom lecture environment and the ways in which multimedia can assist in the learning process, education can become a more active an d engaging pursuit. This study focuses on the effects of control and i nteraction and their interaction. Based on results of studies that str ess active exploration and ''hands-on learning'' it was predicted that learning in a learner-controlled context with complex interaction wou ld lead to higher marks on a post-lecture quiz and subjective question naire. Results partially supported the benefits of learner control and complex interaction, particularly in the area of user satisfaction. F uture research is suggested which may help to realize the potential be nefits of multimedia tools in education and to meet the ideals of the electronic classroom. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd