THE INFLUENCE OF LEARNING TECHNIQUES OF PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTION ON TEACHING PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL

Does training a teacher in the techniques of programmed learning improve his performance as a teacher in the classroom? Does this apply to all kinds of teaching regardless of the age group of children taught? The experiment described here was designed to test the effect of training in programmed learning techniques based on Mathetics on student-teacher performance at five levels of teaching. The five groups of students were instructed in Mathetical programmes before teaching practice and the grades assigned by schools and supervisors were compared with those of a control group who received only a normal preparation for school practice. Whereas almost half the students in the test groups were rated high achievers, less than a third of the control group were considered 'good'. Regarding the second question, there was evidence that teaching performance was improved throughout levels of schooling from infant to secondary.