Abstract

Programmed instruction refers to a learning experience in which there is close interaction between the student and a subject matter without the direct and continuous intervention of a teacher. Programmed instruction distinguishes between teaching and learning. Teaching may be defined as the art of creating and controlling an environment in which learning may occur. Learning occurs where the teacher is appropriate to the circumstance. Programmed instruction is one of these innovative learning systems which promises greater economy in training without the sacrifice of learning effectiveness, as such, it deserves the attention of industrial educators who face the problem of expanding training needs within the confines of limited resources. There has already been a fair amount of experimentation with programmed instruction in industrial training. Programmed learning has many advantages like learning effectiveness, economy in time, economy in cost. Higher performance scores have been reported, generally, on comprehensive tests based on programmed instruction as compared with conventional lecture-textbook instruction. Programmed instruction generally requires less time to cover the same amount of material.