Effect of Using Computer-Based History Teaching on Intermediate School Second Graders’ Immediate and Postponed Achievement and Attitudes

Abstract

This study aimed to ascertain the effect of using computers in the teaching of history on intermediate school second grade pupils’ immediate and postponed achievement of history and their attitudes towards using computers in the learning of history. The study sample consisted of (50) students divided into two groups, control and intervention groups. These were drawn from a state school in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, KSA. For the purpose of the study, the researcher developed a set of computer-based history lessons based on the unit; “Jihaad against the Enemies of Islam”; an achievement test consisting of (20) items; and an attitudes scale consisting of 22 items. Validity and reliability of these instruments were assessed. Findings of the data analysis indicated that the intervention group participants surpassed the control group participants in both immediate and postponed achievement. Besides, the intervention group participants formed more positive attitudes towards using computers in the teaching of history than their counterpart control groups. The findings of the study recommend that computer-based history lessons be made available to all intermediate schools as a priori step towards using them in the teaching of history.