ERIC Number: EJ997085
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jul
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1049-0965
EISSN: N/A
Audiences and Outcomes in Online and Traditional American Government Classes Revisited
Botsch, Robert E.; Botsch, Carol S.
PS: Political Science and Politics, v45 n3 p493-500 Jul 2012
In 1997 we first offered American government classes online as well as face-to-face classes. We administered pre- and posttests to our students to measure their general knowledge of American government, political attitudes, demographics, and some behaviors. Following an initial report in 2001, we continued to gather data for 10 more years; this current study covers nearly 3,200 students during 13 years. We examine the sample as a whole and changes in audiences and outcomes, over time, for the two teaching formats. Although the kinds of students taking online classes have become more similar, a few differences persist. Learning outcome differences continue to be insignificant. Neither format has a clear advantage in students' changes in attitudes, but the online classes increased students' newspaper reading. Class dropout rate and faculty workload both favor face-to-face classes, but flexibility in scheduling and student demand clearly favor online classes.
Descriptors: Political Attitudes, Faculty Workload, United States Government (Course), Audiences, Dropout Rate, Conventional Instruction, Online Courses, Web Based Instruction, Attitude Change, Comparative Analysis, Pretests Posttests, Longitudinal Studies, Outcomes of Education, Instructional Effectiveness, College Instruction, College Students, Student Attitudes, Newspapers
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A