Computer Assisted Instruction on “Learning Nutrition Flags for Deaf 5th Grade and 6th Grad Students”: Effectiveness of Instruction
Suwat Srisorachatr PhD*, Yotsinee Huadong MSc**, Chatrapa Hudthagosol Dr.PH*, Suksiri Danthanavanich PhD***
Affiliation : * Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Rajabhat Suandusit University, Bangkok, Thailand *** Rachasuda College, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : Deaf students are of a number of under privilege group for whom there are limited resources for their use, related
to health including nutrition. The purpose of this research was to create computer-assisted instruction for “nutrition flags”
for 5th and 6th grade students. The content of nutrition included the concept of a healthy balance diets and portion sizes of each
food group.
Material and Method: The content and pictures for computer-assisted instruction came from existing curriculum, and
focused on nutritional content. The contents in this instruction were divided into three units according to students’ learning
capacity. The story boards were developed by staff, including nutritionists, Thai sign language interpreters, and deaf students.
Then, the contents and nutrition vocabulary were translated into Thai sign language. After recording the sign language on
video, this material was merged with the contents and converted into a computer program. The computer assisted instruction
was tested with students from Nakon Pathom School for the Deaf. The first trial was conducted with three students, the second
with five students, and the third with 15 students during the academic year 2009. The computer- assisted instruction was
revised until it met the standard criteria of 80/80. Effectiveness testing was carried out with 36 students for five consecutive
days. On the first day, the pre-test was completed, and on days 2-4, the students performed self-study and completed the
exercises for units 1-3, with 50 minutes spent on each unit. The post-test was completed on the last day. The study was
conducted during the 2010 academic year. Data analysis was performed using the t-test.
Results and
Conclusion : The results showed an effectiveness of 81.85/82.22, which was higher than the standard criteria of
80/80. The post-test average score was higher than the pre-test average score with a statistical significance level at p<0.0001.
Suggestions for instruction for the deaf are that the length of the instruction in each unit should be no longer than 30 minutes
and the sign language window should be large because this mode of communication relies on sight.
Keywords : Computer assisted instruction, Nutrition flag, Deaf
