Evaluating Multimedia Exposure on Pass Rates of Private Pilots

Abstract

The purpose of this study was threefold: first, to evaluate the effect of multimedia presentations versus traditional presentations on the academic achievement of college students enrolled in an introduction to aviation class at a historically Black institution located in a southern state; second, to investigate the influence of gender, experience, and class attendance on the academic achievement of aviation students; and finally, to assess the influence of type presentation (multimedia and traditional) on the course satisfaction scores of aviation students. A posttest-only control-group design was employed in this investigation to collect and analyze the data. Twenty-five students (16 exposed to traditional presentations and 9 exposed to multimedia presentations) were selected to participate in this empirical study. Two instruments, entitled Questionnaire on the Effect of Traditional Method Presentations and Questionnaire on the Effect of Multimedia Presentations, were used to gather the data. The results of the data analysis showed no significant difference between the written examination scores of aviation students by type of presentation. An interesting finding of the study was the significant influence of the variables gender and class attendance on the academic performance of aviation students. Female students did significantly better on the written examination than their male counterparts. In addition, students who missed fewer days did better on examinations than those who missed more days.