SynapseIndia Reviews

on PHP Basics

Online Prototype

PHP Basic online prototype

Learner Analysis

Distance Masters and Residential

Students taking R547.
Prerequisites:

Meet technology competencies set by IST

Be able to use HTML tags, and create a

webpage
Access SSH, and web development tool
such as Homesite.

Context Analysis

To reduce the class time taken to teach

basic PHP.
An online tutorial, that has instructor
support.

Instructional Objectives

to help the learner get started using basic PHP

scripting language
be able to access the tools and software that are
used at IU to create dynamic web pages.
to create elementary PHP applications as a part of
web-based instruction, that is, give feedback to the
users after they complete a quiz
to input and retrieve information from an online
survey
to debug a PHP program that has syntax errors. The
learners are given a model example of what the
program can do if it is working correctly.

Merrills 5 Star ID Rating

Present in context of real world problems?

Activate prior knowledge or experience?
Show examples of what is to be learnt?

Practice and apply new knowledge?

Integrate and transfer new knowledge?

Design Decisions

Provide relevant tasks

Reference prior knowledge of HTML
Show examples
Easy to understand
- Use screen shot instead of lengthy text
Practice and apply
Give tasks following the instruction to reinforce learning
Easy navigation
- Using navigation style similar to Amazon.com
- clear navigation
Overview of the instructional Web site
- Site map on the second page

Paper Prototype

The prototype had 72 pages

Had a linear structure

Usability (paper prototype)

Authentic Users ?

Authentic Task ?

Three users, all residential graduate students.

Two had taken R547, one did not.
They reviewed the paper prototype, and worked on
the tasks online using the testers mentor account.

Authentic Conditions ?

Two usabilities were conducted on campus, one was

done at home.
The usability test lasted 2 hours per session.

Usability Findings (Paper)

Instructional Effectiveness
Subject

Pre-assessment
Mastery Level (Total
Score = 100)

Satisfaction with
Instruction
Post-assessment
Mastery Level
(Total Score = 100)

Reactionnaire
Mean Score

S1

22

3.76

S2

25

3.07

S3

11

66

4.36

Overall

Mean
4.3

Std Dev Mean

5.6
37.6

Std Dev
24.5

Mean
3.76

Std Dev
0.65

Usability Findings (Paper)

Users preferred screenshots but wanted less

text
Users liked going through the practice
sessions.
Users wanted the learning to be scaffolded
Examples:

Quickly troubleshooting the errors

Being able to copy and paste the text rather than
typing the code.
Reducing personal anxiety: one user was against
learning a new software: Homesite

Usability (Online)

Authentic Users ?

Authentic Task ?

Three users, all residential graduate students.

All were taking R547, and they just had lectures on
PHP in their class
They reviewed the online instructions, and worked on
the tasks by using their mentor account.

Authentic Conditions ?

All usabilities were conducted on campus.

Users spent 2 hours per session.
Users were not able to spend enough time for each
section and could not complete the entire tutorial.

Usability Finding (Online)

Instructional Effectiveness
Subject

Pre-assessment
Mastery Level (Total
Score = 100)

Satisfaction with
Instruction
Post-assessment
Reactionnaire
Mastery Level
Mean Score
(Total Score = 100)

S1

34

64

4.14

S2

42

90

3.71

S3

30

4.50

Overall

Mean
25.33

Std Dev Mean Std Dev

22.30
61.33
30.08

Mean
4.12

Std Dev
0.39

Usability Result (Online)

In terms of instructional effectiveness

is high for all users
In terms of satisfaction rate -Novice
user was more satisfied than the
advanced learners (4.50 vs 3.70).

Usability Observation (Online)

Homesite on campus crashed during the

usability tests (the work around, save files on
the desktop and upload using SSH).
Users skimmed through the materials. They
felt they need to spend more time on the
materials and complete the tasks
As they encountered problems they chose to
go through the materials rather than
troubleshoot the errors
Users used the next and previous button
over the menu bar

Usability Feedback (Online)

Users liked the examples used in the

instruction as they were similar to real life
tasks (Quiz, Survey)
Users found the site map useful
Users wanted more meaningful variable
names and descriptions for the functions,
operators and other attributes
They wanted to be reminded to do the tasks