Iterative student‐based testing of automated information‐handling exercises

The continuing rapid changes in how information is handled via computers means that training in computer‐based information handling must itself undergo continuous modification. The investigations reported here examine the use of student feedback to improve presentation of hands‐on exercises. Student responses appear to be reasonably consistent across both time and different student backgrounds. For the groups examined here, such factors as age and sex appear to have little effect on responses. The only significant factor is duration and extent of prior computer experience. Problems in hands‐on exercises noted by the students therefore tend to have a continuing applicability, which suggests the value of iterative feedback in the provision of such exercises

Student reaction to parallel hypertext and menu‐based interfaces

It is often necessary to consider the question of what sort of interface is most useful for retrieving information from a particular land of database. A small database of text‐based but multi‐faceted items is used here in order to compare ease and speed of retrieval from two commonly used combinations of interface — HyperCard on an Apple Macintosh and dBase III+ on a PC. For the restricted range of tasks employed here, the latter combination appears to be more acceptable to students with limited computer experience. However, in more general terms, the acceptability of an interface for information retrieval depends on what particular aspect of information retrieval is being emphasized, and what conceptual frameworks students bring to their tasks