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Objective: To assess the perception and knowledge acquired by medical students with the use of Computer assisted learning (CAL), self-learning package (SLP) and didactic lecture as teaching learning activities. Method: This is a quasi-experimental questionnaire based study, conducted among 169 year 1 MBBS students, by dividing them into 3 groups by block randomization. Group A (n=56) received didactic lecture, group B (n=57), CAL and group C (n=56) a SLP on 'Pharmacotherapy of Bronchial Asthma'. The sessions were held in parallel. Pretest and post-test was given to assess knowledge gain and a validated questionnaire was used to evaluate the perception of the students. The data was analyzed using Student's paired "t" test for pre and post test scores. Two sample t test with equal variance was used to compare the difference between two means among groups. Results: In pre to post-test score analysis, the mean improvement was significantly higher in group B and group C. The difference between two means was highly significant for group A and B (p=0.0000) and for group B and C (p=0.0002). However there was no significant difference between means of group A and C (p=0.1494). Students in group B perceived that they developed conceptual understanding and it helped learn actively. Students from group A & C opined that they would prefer an alternative teaching-learning activity. Conclusion: CAL being an effective and well-perceived TLA by the students, it will be worthwhile to further explore the scope of CAL for more topics in the curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]