Dissertation Defenses

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

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Candidate: Amy E. Scrima

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Psychology

Title: Implementing a Mastery Model through Self Quizzing in an Online Learning Environment

Committee:
Dr. Richard Malott, Chair
Dr. Dale Brethower
Dr. Kristal Ehrhardt
Dr. Eric Fox

Date: Monday, May 18, 2009 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
1509 Wood Hall

Abstract:
Mastery may or may not be a stated goal of instruction, but most instructors would agree it should be. Whether instructors hope for it or arrange for it is a choice they can make. To help instructors with this choice, two things must be established: 1) how mastery can most efficiently and effectively be achieved and 2) how such an arrangement can best be implemented. The use of technology is central to this investigation. The question is not whether technology is going to be a part of higher education instruction; it is whether sound educational methodology is going to be at the base of it. The current study evaluates a format that uses a course management system, which is already in place at most colleges and universities, to encourage mastery of course content through frequent, online chapter review quizzes. It is the intention of this study to make the addition of a mastery condition to an otherwise traditional introductory course as simple as possible for instructors to implement. The effectiveness of this strategy is measured by chapter and final exam scores as compared to control conditions and social validity data is collected to examine student attitudes toward this “new” approach.