ERIC Number: EJ895996
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1556-3847
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Interaction in Online Courses: More Is NOT Always Better
Grandzol, Christian J.; Grandzol, John R.
Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, v13 n2 Sum 2010
Cognitive theory suggests more interaction in learning environments leads to improved learning outcomes and increased student satisfaction, two indicators of success useful to program administrators. Using a sample of 359 lower-level online, undergraduate business courses, we investigated course enrollments, student and faculty time spent in interaction, and course completion rates, all drivers of resource consumption. Our key findings indicate that increased levels of interaction, as measured by time spent, actually decrease course completion rates. This result is counter to prevailing curriculum design theory and suggests increased interaction may actually diminish desired program reputation and growth. (Contains 3 figures and 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Curriculum Design, Academic Achievement, Online Courses, Interaction, Epistemology, Administrators, Academic Persistence, Outcomes of Education, Teacher Student Relationship, Enrollment, Educational Environment, Satisfaction, Structural Equation Models, Predictor Variables, Sample Size, Participation, Higher Education
State University of West Georgia. 1601 Maple Street, Honors House, Carrollton, GA 30118. Tel: 678-839-5489; Fax: 678-839-0636; e-mail: distance@westga.edu; Web site: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A