Collateral Distance Communication Support of Traditional Classroom Learning: An Empirical Study

Preliminary results are reported for a field experiment in distance communication and learning. Students enrolled in traditional classroom courses are provided with asynchronous distance communication support, consisting of optional anytime/anyplace access to classroom lectures via the World Wide Web. The traditional classroom lectures are audio-recorded and the audio transcripts are digitized, compressed and provided, along with the synchronized lecture slides for viewing via the Web. Usage patterns are unobtrusively monitored and correlated to performance and attendance. Additionally, participants’ subjective reactions are collected, compiled and analyzed. The results will provide a foundation for further research and application by 1) helping assess the value added for distributed communication technologies, 2) shedding light on user adoption behaviors and attitudes, and 3) identifying practical considerations in implementation.