Distance Learning in Higher Education: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment

Abstract Using a randomized experiment in public Swiss university, we study the impact of online live streaming lectures on student achievement and attendance. We find that (i) attending via lowers for low-ability students increases high-ability ones; (ii) use technology only occasionally, apparently when random events make class too costly, (iii) offering reduces in-class attendance mildly. These findings have important implications effective design education policies.