Effectiveness of Music Theory and Music Appreciation Digital Courseware on Students Achievement

Abstract

Digital technology in education is prevalent in the Malaysian education system. However, as far as can be determined, no study has been done on the effectiveness of digital educational technology particularly in music e-learning in Malaysia. This paper investigated the effectiveness of using digital courseware as a substitute to conventional method in learning music theory and appreciation in KBSM Pendidikan Muzik syllabus. Differences between learning methods and music achievement were investigated. The paper also explored possible students’ music achievement predictors when digital courseware was used to deliver learning contents through e-learning. Students’ attitude toward music learning, attitude toward technology, and gender were used as covariance in investigating music achievement predictor. Two hundred and seventy-one secondary school students from three Malaysian secondary schools participated in this study. Pre- and post-tests, and attitudinal questionnaires were administered to the two research groups. Conventional classroom method was used to deliver learning content to the control group while the experimental group utilized the researcher-developed digital courseware during the treatment period. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to find the differences between the methods used. Multiple regression analysis was run to find potential predictors of music achievement. Result showed there was a statistically significant difference between learning methods used. Result also found that learning methods were able to predict students’ music achievement. Findings from this paper are hoped to be beneficial for development of digital courseware for Malaysian public schools especially in developing higher musical cognitive skill in tandem with the Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia 2013-1025.