Online Versus In-Class Courses:
An Examination of Differences
in Learning Outcomes......................................................................... 103
Lisa Kirtman

Abstract

With the increase in online degree programs and increased demand from students to attain a degree through online instruction, many institutions of higher education have begun to explore the use of online courses in their degree programs.  Faculty members have expressed the concern that the move to online classes comes at a price: while teaching online may increase enrollment and interest in programs, it does so at the risk of a decrease in learning.  In an effort to address this issue of learning outcomes, this study compared learning online to traditional in-class learning in a graduate class.  The results indicated that there was no significant difference in student learning between traditional and online classes.