The Comparison of Telelecture and Regular Lecture in the Transfer of Knowledge to Adults.

The comparative effectiveness of tele-lecture and traditional lecturer methods for a series of dairy meetings was assessed, and the value of a pre-test and post-test in identifying important concepts and measuring learning was studied. A three-month experiment was conducted with 99 dairy herd improvement association members throughout Minnesota. A lecture was prepared by an Extension specialist and visuals were provided so that the lecture was adaptable to both regular lecture and telelecture. Pre- and post-tests contained 10 single-answer multiple-choice questions, which covered knowledge such as recall, comprehension, application, analysis, and synthesis. Of the participants, 98 completed both tests in three telelectures, and 99 completed both in the seven regular lectures. The tests scores were analyzed to compare the two methods, using a one-way analysis of variance, and an F test at the .01 probability level was used to test for significance. The experiment results showed that there was no significant difference in knowledge gained between the two educational methods. The use of pre- and post-tests was shown to be of value in identifying important concepts and measuring learning; the educator can provide a significant increase in learning by adult students by basing the educational method on the concepts identified in the tests, and it provides a structure by which the learners can identify concepts to be discussed. Appendixes provide the pre- and post-test as well as answers to the test questions. (DB)