Sex education via computer-aided instruction for early secondary school students.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Development and utilization of computer-aided instruction (CAI) on sex education may facilitate learning and provide an additional education channel to early secondary school students. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Randomized control-group pretest-posttest design was used and was applied to four student groups from different schools within Roi Et Municipality as 1) CAI, 2) CAI control, 3) Teacher, and 4) Teacher control groups. The CAI were developed and organized in accordance with new sex education concepts. Questionnaires were also developed accordingly. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was employed. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty three students from four rooms from four different schools were enrolled. The pretest scores were 24.65, 27.44, 31.51, and 33.66; and posttest scores were 25.00, 25.74, 33.80, and 34.77 for CAI, CAI control, Teacher, and Teacher control groups, respectively. The ANCOVA revealed there was no significant difference between the CAI and the CAI control groups (F = 0.399; p = 0.529) and between the Teacher and the Teacher control groups (F = 0.307; p = 0.581). CONCLUSION: Sexual knowledge of CAI group did not differ from the control group. Computer competency of the students underlined CAI usage.