Does Giving the Learner Control Improve Learner Success?

Abstract

This research aims to determine the most suitable style of educational control over the use of multimedia by high school chemistry students in Saudi Arabia. The research aims to quantify the effect of styles of educational control over multimedia (program or learner control) on 16-17 year old students' achievements in chemistry. The sample consists of two groups of 30 students. The first group studied with the learner control style while the second studied using the program control style. The results show that the improvement in chemistry test scores in the first group was better than in the second, with a statistically significant difference between groups at the α = 0.05 level. As a result of this research we recommend, firstly, using the learner control style when designing multimedia programs because of its demonstrated positive effect on achievement; and, secondly, expanding the use of educational programs for individual learning to other areas of education. In summary, this research highlights the beneficial combination of multimedia technology and pedagogy.