scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of Online Classes on Undergraduate Degree Completion

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Wavle ◽  
Gamze Ozogul

This study expands on current research that examines the impact of online courses on retention, degree completion, and student success. The researchers investigated the impact of online courses on degree completion by using existing graduation rate data, course enrollment data, and student grades for undergraduate students at a multi-campus 4-year institution. The researchers aimed to provide advisors, faculty, and administrators with a better understanding of how online classes fit into an undergraduate student’s program of study while completing their degrees within the desired timeframe.  The researchers additionally sought to understand the impact of taking online classes on degree completion while controlling for student demographic and academic factors (e.g. age, first-generation student status, socioeconomic status, SAT/ACT scores, and 1st semester GPA) and campus type (traditional flagship, urban research, and regional). Results indicated that regardless of campus type taking one or more online classes during their program of study increased undergraduate students’ likelihood of successful degree completion. Lastly, to provide further insight, this study compared student performance in online and on campus classes. Results for this comparison were mixed; slightly higher or slightly lower online course grades were obtained by students compared to face-to-face course grades depending on type of campus.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wujiao Wang ◽  
Lu Zhu ◽  
Shijie Zheng ◽  
Yan Ji ◽  
Yongguo Xiang ◽  
...  

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic restricts children and adolescents from doing normal daily activities such as playing outdoors and going to school. The incidence and prevalence of myopia have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the impact of the home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic on the progression of myopia among children and adolescents in Chongqing, China.Methods: The survey was conducted by using stratified samplings. Samples were randomly selected from the 2019 National Student Physique and Health Survey database, and their visual function and refractive data were compared with those in 2020. Vision-related behavior questionnaire including digital screen exposure was applied to investigate the correlation between eye parameter and eye health-related behavior.Results: A total of 1,733 and 1,728 students were enrolled in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The percentage of myopia students was 55.02% in 2020, which was higher than that in 2019 (44.62%). The mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA, LogMAR, 0.35 ± 0.42) in 2020 was higher than that in 2019 (0.27 ± 0.36, P < 0.001). The mean spherical equivalent (SE) refraction (−1.94 ± 2.13 D) in 2020 was lower than that in 2019 (−1.64 ± 5.49 D, P < 0.001). For students who used digital devices for online courses, the mean SE in the television group (−1.10 ± 1.49 D) was better than that in the computer group (−2.03 ± 2.37 D, P = 0.0017) and in the cell phone group (−2.02 ± 2.09 D, P = 0.0028). The average duration of online classes (r = −0.27, P < 0.0001), the number of online classes per day (r = −0.33, P < 0.0001), as well as digital screen exposure time (r = −0.20, P < 0.0001) were negatively correlated with SE, and the average time of outdoor activity (r = 0.20, P < 0.0001) was positively correlated with SE.Conclusions: Increased digital screen exposure contributes to myopic progression in children and adolescents of Chongqing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suitable digital devices should be provided for online classes and outdoor activity should be advocated to prevent myopic pandemic.


Author(s):  
Caitlin R. Semsarian ◽  
Gabrielle Rigney ◽  
Peter A. Cistulli ◽  
Yu Sun Bin

University students consistently report poor sleep. We conducted a before-and-after study to evaluate the impact of an online 10-week course on undergraduate students’ sleep knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours at 6-month follow-up. Data were collected via baseline course surveys (August–September 2020) and follow-up surveys distributed via email (February–March 2021). n = 212 students completed baseline surveys and n = 75 (35%) completed follow-up. Students retained to follow-up possessed higher baseline sleep knowledge and received higher course grades. At the 6-month follow-up, sleep knowledge had increased (mean score out of 5: 3.0 vs. 4.2, p < 0.001). At baseline, 85% of students aimed to increase their sleep knowledge and 83% aimed to improve their sleep. At follow-up, 91% reported being more knowledgeable and 37% reported improved sleep. A novel Stages of Change item revealed that 53% of students’ attitudes towards their sleep behaviours had changed from baseline. There was a reduction in sleep latency at follow-up (mean 33.3 vs. 25.6 min, p = 0.015), but no change in the total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score. In summary, completion of an online course led to increased sleep and circadian knowledge and changed sleep attitudes, with no meaningful change in sleep behaviours. Future interventions should consider components of behavioural change that go beyond the knowledge–attitudes–behaviour continuum.


Author(s):  
Kenneth David Strang

This case presents a best-practice in higher education, whereby a balanced scorecard approach was used to assess the effectiveness of a distance education (online) course in an accredited business degree program at an Australian public university. The assessment rubric was created by applying the concept of the balanced scorecard (from management science) to measure student performance, satisfaction, as well as content and delivery effectiveness. Performance was derived from the course grades while a validated survey instrument was utilized to gather estimates of all other factors from the students. One of the key lessons-learned in the case was that rather than reinvent the wheel, it was better to reuse accreditation surveys designed for the classroom to assess online courses and leverage the management science philosophy of measuring more than just performance to evaluate program success. Similar scorecard concepts have already been applied in U.S. universities, thus their differences with this case are also discussed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 45-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth David Strang

This case presents a best-practice in higher education, whereby a balanced scorecard approach was used to assess the effectiveness of a distance education (online) course in an accredited business degree program at an Australian public university. The assessment rubric was created by applying the concept of the balanced scorecard (from management science) to measure student performance, satisfaction, as well as content and delivery effectiveness. Performance was derived from the course grades while a validated survey instrument was utilized to gather estimates of all other factors from the students. One of the key lessons-learned in the case was that rather than reinvent the wheel, it was better to reuse accreditation surveys designed for the classroom to assess online courses and leverage the management science philosophy of measuring more than just performance to evaluate program success. Similar scorecard concepts have already been applied in U.S. universities, thus their differences with this case are also discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-306
Author(s):  
Maurizio Costabile

Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a potentially fatal condition caused by a Rhesus (Rh) antigen incompatibility between a mother and fetus. As a result, determining the Rh status of expectant parents is a routine clinical assessment. Both the physiological and immunological basis of this condition are taught to undergraduate students. At the University of South Australia, some undergraduate immunology students find this topic challenging. The author designed, implemented, and assessed the impact of an interactive simulation to facilitate student learning of HDN. The students were actively engaged in determining the blood grouping and Rh status of an expectant mother and father and then determining the possibility of developing HDN. The simulation was found to take only 15 min to complete yet led to a significant increase in student performance in an end of semester exam question. Student perceived understanding was found to significantly improve following the introduction of the simulation, even though the content had been covered in a formal lecture. Student feedback was highly positive of this learning approach. In conclusion, short, interactive simulations can be used effectively to enhance student learning of challenging concepts.


2021 ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
Jyoti Agrawal

A survey was conducted to assess the impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 on online education of undergraduate learners of government colleges Umarban, district Dhar (454449) Madhya Pradesh, India. An online as well as offline survey was conducted from 10 October 2020 to 15 March 2021 to collect the information. To analyze the possibility and attention of students for online education, various online quizzes were conducted in which a structural questionnaire link using ‘Google form’ was sent to students through WhatsApp. A total of 265 students were taken for the survey. The simple percentage distribution was used to assess the learning status of the study participants. During the lockdown period, around 15.47% of learners were involved in e-learning. Most of the learners were used android mobile for attending e-learning. The present study revealed that around 60% of students were seen to involve in farming during lockdown instead of online classes. In addition to this, 45% of students never joined an online class during the entire session. Further analysis demonstrated that 13% of students do not have their own mobile phone, nearly 18% could not join due to poor internet connectivity, 21% of students faced unfavorable study environment at home and 3% of students have other reasons. This study also showed a comparative analysis of the presence of students before and after the COVID 19 pandemic. As the ratio of presence of students in physical and virtual classrooms was 2.32. The overall results from this study revealed that especially in rural areas COVID – 19 pandemic had affected more adversely on classroom attendance, where people already do not want to give importance to education. Higher education institutions may benefit from these findings while formulating strategies to support students during this pandemic. Moreover, to promote education in COVID 19 era strong strategies are urgently needed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishan K. Sharma ◽  
Yuchiao Chang ◽  
Eli Michael Miloslavsky

Abstract Background Medical students are often paired together on clinical teams during their clerkships, but the effect of this practice on student performance is unknown. The primary objectives of this study were (1) to retrospectively assess whether students paired together on a medical team during their Internal Medicine sub-internship affected each other’s grade and (2) to survey medical students’ perceptions on the impact of pairing on their evaluations. Methods We examined clerkship grades of 186 student-pairs at 3 sub-internship hospital sites of Harvard Medical School from 2013-2017. To evaluate student perceptions we administered a survey to the graduating class of 2018. Results There was no significant deviation between the expected and observed distribution of student grades (p=0.39) among 186 student pairs, suggesting that pairing had no meaningful effect on the sub-internship grade. We also saw no effect when controlling for prior internal medicine clerkship performance (p=0.53). We then surveyed students in the 2018 graduating class assessing student perceptions on pairing. Of the 99 respondents (59% response rate), 90% and 87% of respondents felt that being paired affected their evaluations by resident and attending physicians, respectively. Conclusions Our analysis suggests that paired medical students do not meaningfully affect each others’ grades, despite the majority of surveyed students believing that being paired affects their evaluations. Awareness of student perceptions regarding pairing can inform clerkship structure and be utilized to address student concerns.


SEEU Review ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-103
Author(s):  
Brikena Xhaferi ◽  
Gëzim Xhaferi

Abstract Online learning is becoming a commonplace in different settings starting from elementary, secondary and higher levels of education. Different educational institutions use different communication tools to promote learning because the expansive nature of the Internet and the accessibility of technology have generated a surge in the demand for web-based teaching and learning across the nations (Chaney, 2010). The online teaching and learning have become a necessity for education around the globe during COVID 19-pandemic. There are several challenges which are faced during online classes because the students must have strong self-motivation skills and be very disciplined to achieve the desired learning results. This paper presents and analyzes the data on the benefits and challenges of online teaching at South East European University (SEEU) during COVID 19 pandemic. The participants of the study are students of the BA level majoring in English Language and Literature and German Language and Literature at SEEU in Tetovo, North Macedonia. To answer the research questions, we have used a student questionnaire, interviews, and student reflection papers written during the online courses. Overall, the research indicates that benefits of online coursework outweigh the challenges that students face during the online classes. From a safety perspective, this study emphasizes the need to consider the impact of online teaching on student motivation and the paper raises important questions about how to best support students enrolled in online courses. Further research is needed in order to better evaluate the benefits, challenges, and useful strategies of successful students enrolled in online courses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Taeyoung Kim ◽  
Sung Kyung Chu ◽  
So Yeon Byeon ◽  
Hae Gyung Yoon ◽  
Yongha Kim ◽  
...  

The rapid spread of online classes in higher education during and after the COVID-19 pandemic has created a growing need for research that explores the issue of student disengagement in online courses. In this regard, the present study suggests a Peer-Tutoring Online Discussion (POD) class model to increase student engagement in online courses among undergraduate students with diverse sociocultural backgrounds and college majors. The study also examines the impact of the POD approach by exploring the experiences of undergraduate students who took online liberal arts courses that employed the POD model during the 2020 spring semester. Qualitative analysis of discussion data from students indicates that the POD class model includes characteristics that can be especially significant in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as opportunities for relationship-building, self-directed learning based on establishing a rapport, and discussion management that considers time limits.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Calum Macdonald

The School of Computing, Engineering and Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University has provided mathematics support for all students in the school since 2012/13. This paper compares the performance of two groups of undergraduate students; those who engaged with mathematics support, through attending targeted lectures, and those who chose not to engage. Data collected over the five years from 2013/14 to 2017/18 for 4,690 engaging and non-engaging students, enrolled on modules with a substantial mathematical content, were analysed. Module marks achieved at first diet for the two groups of students, at all undergraduate levels, were selected as a measure of how mathematics support impacts on student performance. The study showed that there was a substantial and significant difference between the marks achieved by students that engaged with support and those that did not. Students who engaged on average showed an 8% increase in their module mark compared with those who did not engage. 


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