Meeting needs of information technology students: The development of an in -service training model using graphic and advance organizers to improve instruction in the information technology classroom

This participatory action research study examined the factors that relate to the student learning process in the information technology classroom within the proprietary education sector. The objective was to gain a new understanding of proprietary education, supporting the research and researcher's experience that the students in the information technology courses were visual learners. Additionally, instructors were provided with the information necessary to promote a pedagogical change by incorporating Ausubel's cognitive learning theory that is based on the use of advance organizers with graphic organizers to facilitate learning in the IT classroom. Qualitative research was implemented using focus groups in order to involve instructors as co-researchers to further the understanding of student/teacher interaction in a learning/teaching environment.;The findings of this study led to the development of an in-service training model and supplemental workbook. The findings of this study also supported previous research studies on learning styles and the use of graphic and advance organizers in the classroom.