Group items tagged

Using survey responses from more than 2,800 colleges and universities and IPEDS data for 4,891, this study is aimed at answering fundamental questions about the nature and extent of online education some of which include: Who Offers Online (Distance) Courses? How Many Students are Learning Online (at a Distance)? Is Online Learning Strategic? Are Learning Outcomes in Online Offerings Comparable to Face-to-Face? Do Students Require More Discipline to Complete Online Courses? Is Retention of Students Harder in Online Courses? and What Will Drive the Future of Higher Education? The survey analysis is based on a comprehensive sample of active, degree-granting institutions of higher education in the United States.

Social presence, the ability to perceive others in an online environment, has been shown to impact student motivation and participation, actual and perceived learning, course and instructor satisfaction, and retention in online courses; yet very few researchers have attempted to look across contexts, disciplinary areas, or measures of social presence.