The Development and Evaluation of a CAI Package for use in Thai Tertiary Electronics Laboratories

The aim of this study was to develop and then evaluate the effectiveness of a CAI package for laboratory practice in tertiary electronics classrooms. The study was designed to implement the CAI package to support the students´ practice in the electronics laboratory in order to reduce resource costs and maintenance problems by simulating actual equipment and its use. Three instruments, the CLEI (Computer Laboratory Environment Inventory), a pre and post-test and the TROFLI (Technology-Rich Outcomes-Focused Learning Inventory), were used to assess students´ achievement, students´ perceptions of their learning environments and students´ attitude towards the use of the CAI package. The reliability and validity of the Australian developed CLEI was established to ensure its suitability for use with Thai students because of its important role in answering the research questions. The sample was composed of 75 students from 2 electronics classes in the Rajabhat Institute Udonthani. Class 1 consisted of 40 male/female students and Class 2 was composed of 35 male/female students. In this sample there were 5 female and 70 male students studying full-time. The research outcomes indicate that the modified CLEI is a valid and reliable instrument for use in electronics laboratories in Thailand. Overall, the CAI electronics package was considered to be effective in view of both the students´ improved achievement scores and in their attitude towards its use