Technologically assisted instruction and student mastery, motivation, and matriculation

Computer-based teaching methods can improve the transfer of information, increase instructional focus on conceptual and methodological skills, enhance motivation, and stimulate the development of expressive skills. After reviewing a number of studies of computer-based applications, we report a correlational study of psychology students' attitudes and achievement in a technologically enhanced classroom. The results indicated that (a) students rated the computer-based instructional components positively, (b) those with weak academic backgrounds who consistently used the technology achieved higher test scores than weak students who did not use the technology, and (c) students who dropped out of college the following semester tended to be low users of technology. We also discuss the implications of computer technology for teaching.