Using HyperCard to create a flexible learning package for statistics: Costs, benefits and effectiveness

Multimedia programming environments such as HyperCard have the potential to create a new generation of software for flexible learning. This article provides a detailed case study of the development of the HELP-Stats package for learning psychological statistics. HELP-Stats was developed from an existing 10 week laboratory-based statistics course and is intended to provide a complete replication of the desirable aspects of the laboratory classes while adding the immediate feedback, computational support, and adaptive help available in good CAL programs. Controlled evaluations of the effect and affect of the HELP-Stats stacks indicated that even the somewhat inadequate prototypes were more fun and at least as effective as traditional laboratory teaching. Analysis of the costs and benefits suggests that, given careful software engineering, the development costs are comparable with traditional CAL development costs and that the benefits include significant pedagogical and administrative advantages, together with potential resource savings for larger classes or repeated use.