Michael K. Swan, Washington State University
Among the various differences between asynchronous interactions and face-to-face classroom communication, one vital difference involves those that possibly affect the student’s ability to learn. The effectiveness of courses in facilitating instruction and learning is a key concern of all educators involved in or contemplating conducting distance courses. This manuscript explores the impact on learning in asynchronous internet/web based courses compared to learning in a face-to-face classroom. Specifically, the study examines student perceptions of the effectiveness of an active-learning, asynchronous web based course relative to that of a face-to-face classroom-based course. Students were asked to compare effectiveness on a variety of dimensions. These research results are consistent with earlier research related to learner outcomes along several measures, mainly with regard to students’ positive attitudes about their learning in an asynchronous web based course. Additionally, the findings here offer new evidence that learning can also be enhanced with an active learning format in a distance delivered course.