Degree Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2005
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Curriculum and Instruction
First Advisor
Joanne K. Olson
Abstract
Community colleges are offering more online courses to meet the demands of the students they serve. To make these courses effective learning experiences, instructors are trying to utilize technologies and strategies to bring distance students into a virtual community where learning can best take place. This study examines the impact of adding a virtual class lecture/discussion and virtual office hours to two online physics courses offered through an urban community college. Two different courses were taught with two sections each. One section of each course added the virtual sessions for up to 4 hours per week. Effects studied include the impact on student learning as assessed by a subset of the Force Concept Inventory (FCI), shifts in student views about science and learning science as assessed by the Views About Sciences Survey (VASS), and differences in type and frequency of discussion board postings. Results indicate that the FCI posttest scores were significantly better in the sections that did not have the virtual class sessions. VASS results were not significantly different. No clear difference was found between the groups in the number and type of discussion board postings. Use of the virtual class lecture/discussion sessions and virtual office hours did not have a positive affect on these two courses.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-15399
Publisher
Digital Repository @ Iowa State University, http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/
Copyright Owner
Deanna L. Snyder Poudel
Copyright Date
2005
Language
en
Proquest ID
AAI3200454
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
118 pages
Recommended Citation
Poudel, Deanna L. Snyder, "Impact of available interactivity options on student learning and discussions in online physics courses " (2005). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 1767.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/1767
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Community College Education Administration Commons, Community College Leadership Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Instructional Media Design Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons