Students' Perceptions of the Ease of Learning from Computers and Interactive Video: An Exploratory Study

Researchers have suggested that learners' preconceptions of media are an influential factor in achievement. This exploratory study investigated preconceptions of the ease of achieving various learning outcomes (psychomotor, affective, verbal, intellectual) using the media of interactive video, computers, television and books. In addition, it examined whether learners' preconceptions varied with frequency of use or changed as they became literate in a new medium. Twenty-nine students completed a questionnaire on three occasions seven weeks apart. Learners perceived it to be easiest to learn from interactive video, followed by television, computers, and books. They perceived it to be easiest to learn verbal information, followed by attitudes, intellectual skills, then psychomotor skills. However, there was a strong interaction between medium and domain of learning outcome. Preconceptions of the ease of learning from computers did not vary significantly by frequency of use, nor during the process of becoming literate in the medium.