Chair: DEMPSEY, JOHN V.
DAI-A 59/05, p. 1537, Nov 1998

This study investigated the use and effectiveness of providing navigation advice in an hyperlesson. Traditional advisors use factors obtained from assessing student mastery near the end of a lesson and suggest additional lesson activities. A navigation advisor (Advisor) was designed using the Kolb's Assimilator Learning Style, the current lesson position, and lesson interaction to advise on potential navigation choices in the hyperlesson. The study raises three questions (a) would learners use the navigation advice? (b) would the mean posttest scores of Assimilators using the Advisor be higher than Assimilators not using the Advisor? and (c) would the mean posttest scores of Assimilators using the Advisor be higher than all other learning styles using the Advisor? Two two-hyperlesson sequences were designed; one, the experimental treatment, having the Advisor and the other, the control treatment, not having the Advisor. The lessons were administered to 229 entry level Computer Science students at southeastern university over a two day period. The students completed a lesson posttest and a paper-based exit survey after completing the lessons. Analysis of the experimental treatment data indicated that 74% of the learners used the advice provided by the Advisor. Exit survey data further indicated that the learners understood the Advisor operation and advice. Analysis of mean posttest score
differences for Assimilators having and not having the Advisor showed no significance. Analysis of the mean posttest score differences between Assimilators and all Other learning styles using the Advisor was not significant. Two primary limitations were identified: small effect size--the observed differences were small instead of the assumed medium effect and lesson time constraints. Future research is warranted in the following areas: (a) the Advisor interface, (b) the factors used to make suggestions, and (c) removing lesson time constraints. The results show that students using hyperlessons will follow advice that is offered by an advisor. The effectiveness of the Advisor is not proven; however, the idea seems sound and worthy of additional research.