Distance courses are in high demand, post-secondary institutions are being encouraged to offer more. Some studies have found distance science classes to be as effective in content and student success, as on-campus courses. Distance courses often require greater self-motivation and study skills and as a result, the success of students in distance…

Poor instruction has been cited as a primary cause of attrition from STEM majors and a major obstacle to learning for those who stay [Seymour and Hewitt [1997]. Talking about leaving: Why undergraduates leave the sciences. Boulder, CO: Westview]. Using a double-blind design, this study tests the hypothesis that the lack of explicit instructions in…