In this study, the authors examine the differences between two groups of students--those enrolled in either an independent section of a first-year seminar and those enrolled in a first-year seminar embedded in a learning community. In particular, the authors focused on the extent to which course/program outcomes were being met, as reported by…

This study compared two approaches to a first-year seminar, special academic theme vs. college transition theme, to determine if one approach was more effective in terms of one-year retention rates, first-year grade point averages (GPAs), and student perceptions of the course experience and outcomes. Participants included 177 first-semester,…

The goal of this study was to explore whether differences in student academic indicators exist between taking a course face-to-face (F2F) and taking a course via distance education (DE). Three hundred and eighty five students were enrolled in a course offered, both, as F2F (n = 116) and as DE (n = 269). Course content, instructor, textbook…

We conducted correlational and performance discrepancy analyses on exam and achievement data taken from students in three psychology courses. Across courses, the same findings emerged. First, only a small fraction of students consistently performed more strongly on one type of assessment (e.g., multiple-choice) than on another (e.g., short…

The effects of three types of pacing in microcomputer-based instructional programs were examined by evaluating learning competency on five achievement tests ranging in difficulty from memorizing facts to solving problems. Subjects were 100 first-term freshmen enrolled at Ohio State University who completed a microcomputer program on heart…

The impact of word processing on students' attitudes and grades was studied using 235 students in 15 sections of freshmen composition at a large midwestern university. Students in the word-processing sections wrote and revised their papers on the Macintosh Plus using the software MacWrite. Students in the traditional sections used paper, pencils,…

This study compared the attitudes and performance of two groups of college freshmen assigned print or electronic workbooks for library bibliographic instruction. Results suggest that frequency of library use was the significant factor in improvement of information literacy skills, rather than instructional format. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of computer-assisted instruction and cognitive style focuses on a study of college students that investigated the relationship of student success in algebra and field independence-dependence. Topics discussed include the effectiveness of computers as instructional tools; treatments for experimental and control groups; courseware; and…