A
SYMPOSIUM
Programed Ins+ruction Introduction Although its proponents claim so, it is by no meaus clear to teachers of chemistry that programed instruction is a remarkable teaching technique. St this symposium an invited group of high school teachers and college professors who have had personal experience in the use of programed instruction discuss their views. Briefly stated, the speakers are convinced, strongly so, that programed instruction is a useful teaching tool. We all hope to convince each interested teacher that programed instruction in chemistry is a t least of sufficient value to warrant his detailed, thoughtful, examination. Optimistically, we hope that such an examination, which cannot be completed in one symposium, will convince readers that this new version of a very old idea, first used (or first recorded as being used) by Socrates, is indeed all that will he claimed in the discussions which follow. It must he emphasized that further study and diligent, time-consuming effort is required to reach an illformed decision, pro or con. The references cited
by some of the speakers will provide important literature on the subject. The symposium is divided into three more or less non-overlapping parts. The first papers discuss what programed instruction is; the criteria of evaluation, and the underlying reasons why programs are worth careful attention. The remaining papers describe what has been done a t the author's institution, a "how-medid-it" exposition. In most symposiums, a few speakers discuss selected topics for ahout one hour each, or longer. The complexity of this symposium topic warrants discussions of this length; hut the topic is new. and since those of us who think programed instruction is valuable enough to demand attention represent a wide spectrum of experience and opinion (some quite contradictory), it seemed desirable to invite more speakers. with a consequent cntting down of the time available to each. J. A. Young, Symposium Chuirmon King's College, Wilkes-Borre, Pennsylvania
Volume 40, Number I , January 1963
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