A study of the effectiveness of the Iowa Communications Network as a distance learning system by comparing student achievement at the originating site and at remote sites

Abstract

This study compares student achievement between studio students and remote students in a course taught over the Iowa Communications Network. The Iowa Communications Network is a two-way fiill motion fiber optics telecommimications system capable of linking students and instructors anywhere in Iowa. The students in a graduate school law course being taught over the Iowa Communications Network were selected to be the subjects of this study. The instructor was a lawyer who had previously taught the course, but had not taught a course over the Iowa Commumcations Network. The instructor had no special training and received no special training before teaching the course. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of teaching over the Iowa Communications Network as it relates to student achievement. A comparison of achievement was made between the students at the originating site and the students at the remote sites. The comparisons were made using scores on a pretest/posttest, class participation grade, unit quizzes grade, final exam grade, and course grade. The students' scores and grades were analyzed using a f-test and a Mann-Whitney U test. No significant difference was foimd in achievement between the two environments.