Differential characteristics and methods of operation underlying CAI/CMI drill and practice systems

Research has shown that differences in the method of operation of CAI systems may bring about substantially different effects on students’ gains in learning. Therefore, any report of research that involves a CAI system should include a description of the major features of that system. To help researchers in planning the content of these descriptions, and to alert designers of CAI systems, this article lists several characteristics underlying a certain type of CAI system. The CAI systems discussed here are those which present material for a full course; manage students’ learning with minimal teacher interventions; and involve primarily drill-and-practice. The characteristics identified are sorted into four categories: hardware, software, management system, and method of daily operation, and they are provided with rationale for the inclusion or non-inclusion of each.