Perceptions of participants in a multi-site distance learning Bachelor of Science degree program

The program for this conference was structured around sub-sessions focusing on particular themes. This paper was part of the sixth theme: ‘Program standards’. The paper outlines a study undertaken to determine students’ perceptions of distance education courses taken during a Bachelor of Science degree program for vocational education, designed for adult off-campus students in the United States of America (USA). The study examined the following factors: (1) student learning in relation to self-rated levels of learning and understanding of content; (2) instructional techniques with respect to the teacher’s use of the lecture, handouts and visual aids and ability to encourage students to participate and reflect; (3) the medium in terms of how the technology affected the pace of the class, the quality of transmission, and the interaction between different sites; (4) student attitude with regard to their self-rated feeling about preferences for distance education instruction; and (5) students’ views about the possible future uses of distance education. Overall, the perception in all five factors (student learning, instructional techniques, medium, possible uses of distance education and attitude) was positive with possible uses of distance education having the highest mean score. Participants felt positive about distance education after having been involved in the program and students continued to take additional courses in the program.

Published abstract with additional information.

The volume of collected papers is indexed at TD/TNC 62.1018. Show less