February 2001

What Exactly Is ‘Interactive’ Self-Study?

In response to the articles in the November and December issues of The Trusted Professional about new New York state regulations governing continuing professional education (CPE) self-study, a number of members have asked the question, “What exactly is ‘interactive’ self-study?” The new regulation provides full CPE credit for interactive self-study but retains the decades-old rule that noninteractive self-study only qualifies for one-half credit.

While language specifically interpreting the new term is not yet available, a reasonable interpretation can be found in the AICPA/National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s exposure draft of Statements on Standards for CPE Programs, which defines interactive self-study as— a program designed to use interactive learning technologies that simulate a classroom learning process by employing software, other courseware, or technology-based systems that provide significant ongoing, interactive feedback to the participant regarding his or her learning progress.

Evidence of satisfactory completion of each program segment by the participant is often built into such programs.

These programs clearly define lesson objectives and manage the participant through the learning process by

1) requiring frequent participant response to questions that test for understanding of the material presented,
2) providing evaluative feedback to incorrectly answered questions, and
3) providing reinforcement feedback to correctly answered questions.

Therefore, capabilities are used that, based on participant response, provide appropriate ongoing feedback to the participant regarding his or her learning process through the program.

Technology-based self-study programs do not constitute interactive programs per se; they must meet the criteria set forth in the definition of interactive self-study programs.