Background/Purpose According to Adult Learning Theory (ALT), adult learners are internally motivated to learn. The study's purpose was to compare the profiles of the top and bottom 10% of the study's participants based on their mean competency scores.
Method Participants included 51 undergraduate preservice kinesiology students. The participants were asked to assess the underhand roll motor skill using an on-line motor skills assessment program. Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment (T) or control (C) group, with the only difference being a prompt that informed them of the recommended learning sequence each time the C group logged into the program. Each participant was given access to the program for two weeks which provided assessment training and a pre and post test for each participant. The top and bottom 10% of competency assessment scores (N=10) were assessed for profile differences.
Analysis/Results Six independent variables were analyzed. A multivariate ANOVA indicated significant differences between the top and bottom group in frequency use of guided practice (F (1,9) = 5.873, p = .042) and total time in guided practice (F (1,9) = 30.192, p = .001). A step-wise regression model was used to predict performance outcomes. For example, total time spent in guided practice accounted for 12.5% of competency assessment variability.
Conclusions Higher scoring preservice students spent more time in the program and utilized the programs features. Further research is needed to assess whether students navigate through the program according to ALT and the suggested learning sequence presented in the program.
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