Effects of Practice in a Linear and Non-linear Web-based Learning Environment

Instructional elements remain the foundation of current instructional design practice. Practice is the instructional element provided after learners have been given information required to master an objective and Navigation is the non-instructional element guides the learner on the sequence of instruction. Linear Navigation can be referred to as program control where the learners do not have control over sequence and Non-Linear Navigation can be referred to as Learner control over sequence of instruction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of practice with feedback, navigation type on achievement, attitude, and time when students use a web-based instructional program and the interaction between practice and navigation type. 240 students from a large south western university participated in four different web based environments. Significant differences were found for practice main effect, but not for navigation main effect. There was no interaction between practice and navigation. There were significant differences for attitude items, I learned a lot from this program and the program gave me enough opportunity to practice between the treatments who received practice and those who did not. This study reinforces on the importance of practice and has implications for the design and development of web-based, multimedia instruction.