Computer animation and academic achievements: Longitudinal study in electronics education

An animation based learning unit on the subject of the bipolar junction transistor was recently developed for electronics students in a two-year college in Israel. A previous research had indicated a significant gap between the achievements of students in a basic course studying the electronic device through animation and those of students studying it through static diagrams drawn on the board. The longitudinal study described in this paper examined whether animation based learning of the bipolar junction transistor has a long term effect on students' achievements and whether this gap is maintained in advanced courses covering analog electronics. Findings indicate that even a year after the completion of the basic course, the achievements of students who have studied the transistor through animation continue to be significantly higher than their peers', and that animation based learning promotes retention and transfer.