The impact of classroom instruction versus computer -based instruction on participant learning of technical information

The purpose of this study was to examine two instructional methods for delivering a technical training course titled Technology Fundamentals to salespeople. The first method was a traditional classroom method of instructional delivery. The second method was a computer-based training (CBT) method of delivery administered using a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM). This study compared two methods of delivering the course materials to ABC Company sales to determine if a distance learning method of delivering the training course was as effective as the current classroom training course. A static-group comparison quasi-experimental design was used involving two small groups. The total population was a sales force of 42 individuals. A sample containing eight participants divided into two groups of 4 was used in this study.;The independent variable was the instructional method. The dependent variable was the test score. The study was conducted using two groups of sales employees within ABC Company. Group 1 received traditional classroom instruction on Technology Fundamentals. Group 2 received CBT on CD-ROM of Technology Fundamentals. Data were obtained from the results of a computerized test. Statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS statistical software. Test scores of Group 1 and Group 2 were compared using a t-test for comparing two independent means, and no significant difference was found between the posttest mean scores of the two groups.;A two-tailed t-test was used to analyze the hypothesis. There was no significant difference at the .05 level using a t-test for independent samples. Although there was no significant difference between the posttest mean scores of participants who completed a training course on technology fundamentals using the traditional classroom instructional method and participants in which the computer-based instructional method was used, the sample mean for the group receiving CBT was greater than the group receiving classroom instruction.