Ability Grouping for Teaching Computer Literacy Classes

Abstract

This paper shows that ability grouping in the middle of a semester is effective forteaching computer literacy to freshmen who have a variety of skill levels. Three teachers includingthe authors have been teaching a computer literacy course to 150 students for about five years. In1998 and 1999, we reorganized three 50-student classes based on an achievement exam in themiddle of the semester. After the reorganization, we adjusted lectures according to the students'ability. Our statistical analysis shows that the exam scores were improved and the students' self-assessmentscores of their own skills were upgraded in all classes. The effect was significant in theslow-learners class compared to the other two classes.