Using Mimio Boardcast in an Online Principles of Macroeconomics Course to Improve Student Performance

Abstract

The emergence of the speedily evolving world of technology has given many universities an interactive medium to facilitate teaching and learning. One such medium has been online courses, which have provided greater access to both traditional and non-traditional students. In quantitative courses such as economics, however, there are often concerns about whether students in online and on-campus sections of the same course receive equivalent educational experiences. This paper will compare student performance, as measured by grades and retention, of students enrolled in economics courses from the fall of 1998 through the summer of 2003. The paper will also focus on how one university has used technology and pedagogy to facilitate teaching and learning, In addition, the paper will show how one professor is effectively using Mimio Boardcast to enhance the quality of education offered to students taking online courses and will describe the methods the professor has used to empower the students to successfully integrate pedagogy, technology, and academic outcomes.