Cost Effective Computer Based Tutorials

In this paper we examine the cost effectiveness of a particular sort of computer-based engineering tutorial developed at The University of Western Australia. This computer system sets the student a sequence of engineering problems and requires numerical answers as solutions. The software tries to provide diagnostic help in the case of wrong answers, which relieves the teaching staff of a great deal of repetitive teaching. There is also a built-in messaging environment that collates messages about specific problems, and this becomes a cumulative database of comment about specific engineering issues that the students may access again relieving staff from having to answer the same query many times. This type of tutorial has been used in several engineering subjects at UWA since 1995. We have found that student learning and student satisfaction while using this computer system are arguably better than in previous years. The issue of cost is not so clear-cut because of the expense of developing the software; however we believe it is possible to demonstrate real savings in the recurring cost of running the course. This conclusion is supported with financial data, examination results and a student survey.