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All things being equal: classroom vs. web.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

Since the initial offering of an online library/information literacy course, the question has been whether this form of instruction has any advantages over the traditional classroom method in terms of improved learning outcomes. The present study looks at the final exam grades of over 1,000 students to determine whether any such difference is indicated.

Introduction

Louisiana State University (LSU) is Louisiana's largest university, with a student population that hovers at about 31,000. The Instruction Group within LSU Libraries bears the primary responsibility for library/information literacy instruction at LSU. With only nine librarian-instructors, the task of enlightening so many students not only to the effective use of library resources but also to the much larger process of information literacy is a decidedly formidable task. Though library/information literacy instruction at LSU takes many forms, such as online tutorials and special one-time-only classes, the only platform that offers students extended time with a librarian for instruction in a range of information resources is the LIS 1001 Research Methods and Materials course. LIS 1001 sessions are offered twice each fall and spring semester and once each summer. Currently, the course's maximum capacity is 362 students each session. Thus, in a full year, the greatest number of students that can be accommodated is 1,490. The course is never at maximum capacity due to dropouts. In the summer of 2001, with an eye toward increasing the reach of the library's instructional efforts, an online version of the LIS 1001 course was tested. Students who enrolled did not know at first that they would be taking the course online. These students actually met in a classroom each day at the advertised time.

The web-based course was designed as a pilot for a section that would be taught totally online in the following fall semester. The instructor assigned to the summer section explained this to the class and asked them to read the instructional materials online and complete any assigned tutorials before the class session. The students were told that, in return, they would receive help in doing the assignments during class time. Students were free to ask questions for clarification as they worked through each lesson. In this hybrid way and with access to immediate feedback from the students, the instructor and course designer were able to gauge the limitations of the proposed course plan and material, to discover whether the lessons and assessments were clear, and, ultimately, to improve the course...