Computer‐assisted vs<i>.</i> teacher‐directed teaching of numeracy in adults

Abstract

Abstract Whilst a good deal of research literature has been published on using Computer‐Assisted Instruction (CAI) to help teach children with learning disabilities, there are fewer published studies examining the use of CAI with adults with a mild learning disability. This paper reports on an experiment comparing computer‐assisted and teacher‐implemented instruction in numeracy with this population, with a third group acting as a control group. All groups were pre‐tested on two psychometric tests of numeracy, after which the experimental groups received one half‐day per week training in numeracy, with all groups being reassessed after three months and after six months. It was found that overall the three groups improved in their numeracy scores, and that teacher‐led and computer groups improved more as a function of time on the intervention than did the control group. The issue of how much teacher support is required when this population uses CAI is discussed, as are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the software used in the study.