An Evaluation of Teacher/student Verbal and Non-verbal Behaviours in Computer Augmented Physics Laboratory Classrooms in Kenya

ABSTRACT

This paper addresses itself to the question of how effective is collaborative CBI in promoting the students' verbal and non-verbal behaviours in the physics laboratory classroom. It is based on the results of a study that involved the development and evaluation of a computer-based instruction (CBI) module for teaching the concept of measurement in physics in the secondary school level. A total of 118 subjects and one physics teacher participated in the study. The CBI module was implemented for a period of four weeks during which time, 8 classroom observations based on 10-second intervals were undertaken.

The findings obtained indicate that the collaborative CBI had a significant impact on the teacher/student verbal and non-verbal behaviours. The nature of the students' verbal and non-verbal interactions in the CBI treatment group improved considerably than was the case in the true control group.