Self-Paced Instruction: A Review

Abstract

Is self-paced instruction the answer to the problems encountered in the teaching of introductory economics? Professor Allison believes that it will be tried in many schools over the next five years. Her article, which is divided into two parts, discusses the benefits and costs of self-paced instruction, based on brief summaries of experiences at seven schools. The second part provides the reader with “nuts and bolts” information, including “what appear to be the pros and cons,” for anyone who wants to try this approach. Overall, Professor Allison believes that the evidence on the educational benefits of self-paced instruction is at present inconclusive, but that this is inevitable, in view of the difficulties in starting the system, and the relatively unsophisticated methods of evaluation employed.