Cyberspace Aptitude Analysis (CAA)
Cyberspace aptitude determines the level of computer/web interaction that a student already possesses. Students will be classified as Non-User, Novice, Intermediate, Master and Expert. An explanation of these classifications will be provided with the results. The Learning Styles will be identified to assist faculty to select instructional methods throughout the curriculum.
Learning Styles
The Learning Styles are based on the Kolb Theory of Experimental Learning. The student will be classified by Acquisition and Metacognition. Under acquisition students will be classified as theoretical versus factual and auditorial, visual or acquired learner. Under Metacognition the student will be classified as investigative versus contemplative and as an audio, visual or physical processor. It will also identify the learner as a social or solitary learner.
ADC conducted a validation and research project on the two student inventories the Cyberspace Attitude Analysis (CAA) and Learning Styles
Numerous dissertations over the last few years have been calling for the development of a tool that could assess the relationship between computer ease, internet ease, internet success, internet satisfaction and learning styles throughout education. This is being driven by the demand for Technical Schools, Colleges and Universities to provide more instructional materials through distance learning, bulletin boards, email, etc. and to require students to conduct research via cyberspace (internet).
CAA is a tool that assesses the relationship between computer ease, internet ease, internet success, internet satisfaction and what kind of a user the person is overall. Cyberspace aptitude determines the level of computer/web interaction that a person already possesses.
The internet is not necessarily only using the web it is utilizing the operations of a network of information and connection between millions of computers. It is an enormous network. The different areas have been designated
User Type Classification
None User
Novice
Intermediate
Master
Expert
Categories of Knowledge and Use Content
Acquire Web Components
Chat
E-Commerce
E-mail
Entertainment
General
Internet Broadcast
Search/Research
Spec Interest Groups
Learning is overall the process of committing (representations) information, data, etc. to memory where it may be processed. The learner processes information, data, etc. by the way he/she organizes, stores, and finds relationships by linking new to old knowledge. Learning is not just memorizing the answers and regurgitating someone elses meaning. Learning is the search for meaning, understanding wholes, as well as, the parts from what has been presented or derived from the senses. Learning is comprised of both acquisition and metacognition.
Metacognition
Metacognition is how the learner processes to memory the information, data, etc. that has been acquired or presented to the learner in order to learn for later use and knowledge.
Metacognition is broken up into two categories, investigative and contemplative, as to how information, data, etc. is processed by the learner.
Acquisition
Acquisition is the method by which information, data, etc. is presented to the learner, to allow him/her to acquire (take in) the information, data etc. in order to then learn (process it to memory) for later use. In order to learn (process it to memory) the learner must think of or about the information, data, etc..
Acquisition is broken up into two categories related to how information, data, etc. is presented to the learner. Theoretical acquisition or factual acquisition are the ways that information, data, etc. can be presented to the learner in order to acquire(take in) the information, data, etc.
Inter/intra Personal
This area determines if a person is a more social or solitary learner.
Social: learners do better when one or more people interact with them. This learner would rather be in groups for activities, study roups, or bouncing information back and forth with another individual.
Solitary: learners do better when they have no other human interaction to learn. This learner would rather have an independent study, computer course, or do a project alone. This learner studies alone.
Assessments
