Learning From Students

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Learning From Students

• A Study Into the Use of
• Class Web Sites in a Liberal Arts College

ISECON2001 Kathleen M. Kelm Edgewood
College, Madison, WI
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Definitions, definitions

• Class Web sites
• Web sites for classroom content
• Course Management Systems
• Software systems that support classroom
  activities
• Learning Management Systems
• Software systems that support learning learner
  activities

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Questions to Ponder?

• Key benefits of each?
• Technology requirements for each?
• Level of support for each?

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Background of Study

• Class Web sites for Spring 2000 semester
• Purpose of Class Web sites
• Typical activities associated with Class Web
  sites
• Statistics of student population

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Study Characteristics

• Mid-Semester
• Survey
• Focused on reasons for class web site access
  frequency

• End of Semester
• Survey
• Focused on usefulness of class web site components

• End of Semester Interview
• Open dialog question answer
• Student feedback on assumptions

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Assumptions

• Adherence to college standards
• Web authoring tool only
• Critical thinking component of liberal arts
  education
• Class Web site to enrich student learning
• Class Web sites to be secure

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Specific Class Characteristics
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Demographics of Study

• 45 students (27 undergrads/18 grads)
• 73 within 3 semesters of graduation
• 49 under 30 yrs old
• 31 under 40 yrs old

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Lessons Learned Technical

• Security
• Dynamic vs. static
• Publishing challenges
• Threaded discussion web page for the Question of
  the Week

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Lessons Learned from Students

• Survey 1 Access Functionality
• 83 access class web site 1-3 times/week
• 15 access class web site 4-6 times/week
• Before class 1 hour/a.m./p.m./1 day
• After class 74 within 3-5 days

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Student Responses-Survey 1
of respondents who indicated high level of
importance or reason for access
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Lessons Learned from Students

• Survey 2 Functionality Impact
• Class notes Assignments accessed 30-35 prior
  to class 24-27 after
• Class notes used for note taking, reference
  studying
• Assignment used for workload reference
• References used for assistance in assignments
  studying

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Student Responses-Survey 2

• Class Notes Assignments
• Improved understanding
• Learning retention
• Relevance for referencing later
• Assistance in clarification (took better notes,
  assisted in clarification, contributed to
  success)
• Resources Links
• Increased retention
• Clarified concepts
• Assisted in assignments

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Retention, Completion Clarification
Increased or Assisted in
of respondents indicated strongly agree or agree
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Lessons Learned from Students

• Open Discussions
• Pedagogical approach valid
• Availability of computers in classroom mixed
  responses
• Resources provided a wider scope base for
  discovery
• Modeling the technology beneficial
• How did we ever do without it

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Lessons Learned Interpretation

• Short is Sweet
• Earlier the better
• Universal access 24/7 vital
• Question of week needs focus
• Internet speed limitation to expansive use of
  electronic resources
• Improvements used in Spring 2001 Class Web sites

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More Interpretations

• Questions
• Did the Class Web site extend learning beyond the
  classroom?
• Did the Class Web site enrich student learning?

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Class Web Site

• Framework for Class
• Increased readiness to learn
• Continued learning after class
• Expanded base for a broader view
• Reinforced learning increased retention

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Further Investigations.

• Web-enabling students
• Technical competencies of students
• Interactive repository of information
• Class Web site vs. Course Mgmt System
• Costs of infrastructure
• Costs of publishing

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Questions?