Online Versus Face-to-Face: Does Delivery Method Matter for Undergraduate Business School Learning?

Abstract

Considering the significant growth in online and distance learning, the question arises as to how this different delivery method can affect student learning. Specifically, this study compares the student learning outcomes on both a “basic” and “complex” assignment given in the same course, but using two different delivery methods of traditional face-to-face and online, across five undergraduate business courses taught at Elon University during the summer 2007 session. This study includes data from over 120 students and, after controlling for other factors known to affect student performance, the results indicate that delivery method has no significant difference in student learning.

Keywords: Learning Outcomes, Online, Face-to-face, Undergraduate, Business

JEL Classification: A22