Comparison of Students' Product Creativity Using a Computer Simulation Activity versus a Hands-on Activity in Technology Education

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a computer simulation activity versus a hands-on activity on students' product creativity, originality, and usefulness. Fifty-eight middle school technology education students from Northern Virginia participated in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a computer simulation or hands-on treatment group. The computer simulation group used a Lego-type brick simulator to construct creative products on the computer; whereas, the hands-on treatment group used real LEGO® bricks to construct their creative products. The hands-on groups' products were collected by the researcher and copied into the computer simulation program. Both groups' products were printed using a color printer. The printed products were evaluated by expert judges using a creative product semantic differential scale. This study showed that there was no significant difference in product creativity scores among the computer simulation and the hands-on treatment group. The null hypothesis was accepted. Findings suggested that it was possible to use a computer simulation activity in place of a hands-on activity and still maintain product creativity, originality, and usefulness.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction

Department dc:contributor.department

Teaching and Learning

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Michael, Kurt Y.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Bame, E. Allen

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hirsh, Richard F.
• LaPorte, James E.
• Brusic, Sharon A.
• Abraham, Jane L.

• creative product
• creativity
• technology education
• computer simulation

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05222000-16210003

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/27837