Distance Learning Equal or Better than Traditional Classroom Learning?

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

No words can express my appreciation and gratitude to my research advisor _______ through the course of this research, Professor _____has taught me numerous values that extend well beyond the realm of _________ (Your Subject Name). His emphasis on dedication to work and his valuable and practical insights of life are some of the major highlights of my education at The University _________.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for the academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

In traditional post, secondary education learners have the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with instructors and other learners within the classroom and one-on-one encounters. When learners enroll in educational opportunities available through various distance learning modalities opportunities for face-to-face learner/instructor and learner/learner interactions are rare. Distance learning interactions occur via correspondence through postal mail, email, telephone, fax, and computer mediated modalities such as synchronous or asynchronous discussion boards and audio/video streaming. The lack of face-to-face learner/instructor and learner/learner interactions is often viewed as detrimental to learning. This dissertation had an aim to analyze the distance education with traditional education and analyze, whether it is better or same. This dissertation had applied library search methodology and used extensive primary sources for the purpose. This dissertation has discovered that distance education is very much the same as traditional forms of education.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Introduction1

1.2 Problem statement2

1.3 Aims and objectives of the study2

1.4 Research questions2

1.5 Rationale of the study3

1.6 Significance of the Study4

1.7 Summary4

CHAPTER 2: DISCUSSION5

2.1 The Rise of the Nontraditional Learner5

2.2 Distance Education6

2.3 Research in Distance Learning Effectiveness7

2.4 Criticisms of Research in Distance Learning Effectiveness9

2.5 Summary10

CHAPTER 3: DISCUSSION OF VARIOUS POINTS OF VIEW12

3.1 An Evaluation of Distance and Traditional Learning12

3.2 Debate over Distance and Traditional Learning13

3.3 Achievement within the Distance Environment15

3.3.1 Student achievement in the distance learning environment16

3.4 Persistence in the Distance Education Program17

3.4.1 Persistence studies in the distance education programs18

3.5 Satisfaction with the Distance Education Program19

3.5.1 Televised instruction19

3.5.2 Teleconferencing19

3.6 Comparisons with Traditional Courses20

3.7 Summary22

CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSIONS24

REFERENCES27

PRIMARY SOURCES33

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

Motschnig (2002, 8) described that in traditional post, secondary education learners have the opportunity for face-to-face interactions with instructors and other learners within the classroom and one-on-one encounters. When learners enroll in educational opportunities available through various distance learning modalities opportunities for face-to-face learner/instructor and learner/learner interactions are rare. Distance learning interactions occur via correspondence through postal mail, email, telephone, fax, and computer mediated modalities such as synchronous or asynchronous discussion boards and audio/video streaming. The lack of face-to-face learner/instructor and learner/learner interactions is often viewed as detrimental to learning (Visser & Keller 2000, 467).

Educators involved in distance learning have been demonstrating learning effectiveness for over 50 years (Visser 2005, 90). In the last ten years there have been numerous research studies demonstrating the newest distance learning opportunity in ...