Distance education: relationship between academic performance and technology-adept adult students

  • Authors:
  • Cheryl King Duvall;Robert G. Schwartz

  • Affiliations:
  • Assistant Professor of Management, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, Tel: 770.986.3194, Fax: 770.986.3233, duvall_ck@mercer.edu;Professor of Marketing, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, Tel: 770.986.3179 Fax: 770.986.3337, schwartz_rg@mercer.edu

  • Venue:
  • Education and Information Technologies
  • Year:
  • 2000

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Abstract

Advances in technology assisted education are revolutionizing the educational process as most know it today. What impact, if any, does technology-assisted education have on the future of higher education? In this study, we examine data from an ongoing evaluation of the distance education program for graduate level business students in a private university. The study addresses the impact of technology-assisted learning on academic performance among distance learners and their on-campus counterparts. The study further explores the relationship between academic performance and students' technological adeptability. The findings indicate, when adjusted for gender (females out-performed males), there were no significant differences in academic performance between distance learners and their on-campus counterparts. Analysis also shows no significant differences in overall academic performance between technology-adept students and those without technological skills. These findings may remove at least some perceived barriers in the decision to initiate distance education programs.