Technological improvements on classroom community and the increasing acceptance of distance learning courses

Chuleeporn Changchit and Tim Klaus

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2012, vol. 11, issue 4, 404-414

Abstract: Educators and students across the country are embracing the idea of increased distance learning and online course offerings from universities. The increased acceptance of online classes is supported by several key factors. Most notable of these factors include an increase of basic computer knowledge, faster means of communication between computers and more widespread access to computers. In addition to those factors, there are many social aspects that lend themselves to the acceptance of distance learning opportunities that include an increase in enrolment over the past several years due to more limited opportunities in the job market and a change in family dynamics. This study examines community factors which impact the classroom environment by comparing perceptions of students taking the same class from the same instructor in online and traditional classroom settings. The results reveal that these community factors were perceived differently by students in the two groups which lead to different level of satisfaction. The results in this study help in identifying key differences in student perceptions of the course and promote an understanding on whether there is a positive or negative perception in student satisfaction related to these community factors.

Keywords: technology-enabled learning; distance learning; online classrooms; classroom communities; virtual communities; web based communities; online communities; internet; world wide web; e-communities; electronic communities; technological improvements; online courses; universities; higher education; e-learning; electronic learning; online learning; computer knowledge; faster communications; computers; computer access; social aspects; student enrolment; job opportunities; labour markets; family dynamics; community factors; classroom environments; student perceptions; traditional classrooms; satisfaction levels; positive perceptions; negative perceptions; student satisfaction; innovation. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=47140 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijilea:v:11:y:2012:i:4:p:404-414

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Innovation and Learning from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().