TRADITIONAL LECTURE FORMAT COMPARED TO COMPUTER-ASSISTED-INSTRUCTION IN PHARMACY CALCULATIONS

Learning outcomes as measured by exam scores in a pharmacy calculation s course were compared between two groups of students: one group in a traditional lecture format and one group in a computer-assisted instru ction (CAI) format. One hundred ten students were divided into two gro ups seven weeks after both groups were in a lecture format. Exam score s for the two groups were similar before the groups split into their r espective learning formats as well as after six weeks of learning by e ither lecture or CAI format. The CAI program was easy to use and stude nts' evaluation of the program was favorable. Students in the CAI grou p spent less time learning the material than did their counter parts. We conclude that the evaluated CAI program resulted in similar learnin g outcomes compared to those of a traditional lecture format.