Computer based safety training: an investigation of methods

Background: Computer based methods are increasingly being used for training workers, although our understanding of how to structure this training has not kept pace with the changing abilities of computers. Information on a computer can be presented in many different ways and the style of presentatio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) England), 2005-04, Vol.62 (4), p.257-262
Main Authors: Wallen, E S, Mulloy, K B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult education
adult learning
Air
Animation
Asthma
Audiovisual Aids
Biological and medical sciences
CAI
Computer assisted instruction
computer based training
Computer-Assisted Instruction - methods
Computers
Computers in education
Designers
Education
Educational Measurement
Educational Technology
Ergonomics. Workplace layout
Ergonomics. Workplace layout. Occupational psychology
Female
Humans
Hypotheses
Illnesses
Instructional design
Job training
Learning
Learning theory
Lung diseases
Male
Mechanical ventilators
Medical sciences
Microcomputers
Middle Aged
Multimedia
multimedia instruction
Multimedia materials
Occupational hazards
Occupational Health
Occupational health and safety
Occupational medicine
Occupational safety
Original
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Safety
Safety training
Studies
Theory
Training
Ventilators, Mechanical
Workers
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background: Computer based methods are increasingly being used for training workers, although our understanding of how to structure this training has not kept pace with the changing abilities of computers. Information on a computer can be presented in many different ways and the style of presentation can greatly affect learning outcomes and the effectiveness of the learning intervention. Many questions about how adults learn from different types of presentations and which methods best support learning remain unanswered. Aims: To determine if computer based methods, which have been shown to be effective on younger students, can also be an effective method for older workers in occupational health and safety training. Methods: Three versions of a computer based respirator training module were developed and presented to manufacturing workers: one consisting of text only; one with text, pictures, and animation; and one with narration, pictures, and animation. After instruction, participants were given two tests: a multiple choice test measuring low level, rote learning; and a transfer test measuring higher level learning. Results: Participants receiving the concurrent narration with pictures and animation scored significantly higher on the transfer test than did workers receiving the other two types of instruction. There were no significant differences between groups on the multiple choice test. Conclusions: Narration with pictures and text may be a more effective method for training workers about respirator safety than other popular methods of computer based training. Further study is needed to determine the conditions for the effective use of this technology.
ISSN:1351-0711
1470-7926
DOI:10.1136/oem.2004.015958