EVALUATION OF DISTANCE LEARNING IN AN “INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS” CLASS: A CASE STUDY

Authors

  • SCOTT R. EVANS Harvard University Extension School
  • RUI WANG Harvard University Extension School
  • TZU-MIN YEH Harvard University Extension School
  • JEFF ANDERSON Harvard University Extension School
  • RAMMY HAIJA Harvard University Extension School
  • PAUL MADOC MCBRATNEY-OWEN Harvard University Extension School
  • LYNNE PEEPLES Harvard University Extension School
  • SUBIR SINHA Harvard University Extension School
  • VANESSA XANTHAKIS Harvard University Extension School
  • NATASA RAJICIC Harvard University Extension School
  • JIAMENG ZHANG Harvard University Extension School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52041/serj.v6i2.484

Keywords:

Statistics education research, Biostatistics, Distance education

Abstract

Biostatistics is not universally available in colleges/universities and is thus an attractive course to offer via distance education. However, evaluation of the impact of distance education on course enrollment and student success is lacking. We evaluated an “Introduction to Biostatistics” course at Harvard University that offered the distance option (Spring 2005).We assessed the effect on course enrollment and compared the grades of traditional students with non-traditional students, as well as with historical traditional students (Fall 2004). We further compared course evaluations from the inaugural semester with the distance option to evaluations from the prior semester. No evidence of dissimilarities was noted with respect to overall course grade averages or course evaluations.

First published November 2007 at Statistics Education Research Journal: Archives

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Published

2007-11-29

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 2 (2007)

Section

Regular Articles