328 research outputs found
Comparing distance education and conventional education: Observations from a comparative study of postâregistration nurses
This retrospective study presents a comparison of assessment results achieved by distanceâlearning students and classroomâbased students undertaking the same module in a degree course. The purpose of the comparison is to provide some objective measurement of the quality of distance education in relation to conventional classroomâbased education. The authors have selected three groups of students, who have all undertaken the same module in the B. Sc Health Studies degree programme offered by the University of Paisley. One group (in Paisley) undertook their studies by means of conventional classroomâbased education, the second (in Hong Kong) by supported distance learning with faceâtoâface contact in the form of tutorials, and the third (in a geographically dispersed group in the United Kingdom and other countries) by supported distance learning with no faceâtoâface contact. The results obtained by these three groups of students were analysed. Because of the differences in the size of the groups, the Kruskalâ Wallis 1â Way Anova test was applied to validate the face value findings. The authors include findings from the literature comparing distance education with conventional education and from crossâcultural studies to present their data in context. Analysis of the assessment results showed that students from all three groups were successful in their studies, but the students studying by distance learning obtained significantly higher endâofâmodule results than their classroomâbased colleagues. This latter finding reflects the conclusion that other investigators have reached In their discussion the authors identify educational, cultural and personal factors that may help to explain their findings. A limitation in the study is that it concerns only one module in the degree programme. The research now moves on to comparing students who have undertaken the whole degree programme by the means describe
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