The effect of different teaching techniques and learning environments on students' success in using software packages in higher tourism education

In this study it was investigated whether teaching tecniques and conditions in vocational data processing lessons, which itself is an applied lesson, had an effect on the success of students? software pack usage capability.The research carried out during the 2011-2012 academic year at Akdeniz University, School of Tourism and Hotel Management using pretest-posttest experimental design was conducted with 44 3rd grade students who attended vocational data processing lessons for the first time. Students were divided into a control group and experimental group which were made up of 20 and 24 students respectively.As a means of data collection, an achievement test consisting of 20 questions was developed in collaboration with researchers and software pack educators. Apart from the control and experimental groups, the test was applied to an independent group of 56 students in order analyze its validity and reliability. The data obtained were analyzed with Statistica for KR 20 calculations.As a result of the analysis, it was established that teaching tecniques and conditions in vocational data processing classes lead to a difference in control and experimental groups. However, this difference isn?t statistically significant. It is suggested that different teaching techniques should be researched for applied lessons.Key Words: Teaching material, Education conditions, Vocational training program, Hotel automation, Tourism education, Applied education