E-Learners at Risk: The Effect of the Online Learning Environment upon Mid-level Achievers

Abstract

In a continuous improvement research project aimed at identifying the students who are best suited for Web-delivered programming courses, the authors gathered data from five online and five classroom sections of Visual Basic programming at Metropolitan State College of Denver and compared them. All sections of the course used the same syllabus and assignments, and were taught from a centralized, standardized process by the same instructor. Internet students in the midrange of achievement level were affected more by delivery method than those at either the high end or the low end of their achievement level, as measured by GPA. The research culminates a three-year study on delivering higher level CIS curriculum via Web courses. The authors conclude that more study is needed, but are convinced that the mid-level B or C student is most affected by Web delivery, and design and delivery of programming courses via the Web need careful attention.