Harmful or Helpful? The Impact of New Technologies on Learning Outcomes in Introduction to Sociology

• In Event: 437 - Section on Teaching and Learning in Sociology Paper Session. Teaching in the 21st Century

Abstract

I conduct a quasi-experiment across three face to face (F2F) sections and four online sections of Introduction to Sociology testing open access (i.e., electronic) and print reading materials. This research fills a gap in the literature by examining how both the mode of instruction (online or F2F) and type of reading material (open access or print) impacts student learning outcomes. This research uncovers whether using open access materials is a viable option for reducing textbook costs, thereby increasing access to higher education. Moreover, by testing these reading materials across two classroom types, I can discern whether the different reading materials are more or less useful to online as opposed to F2F students. Findings offer mixed results. Students who were enrolled in a section that was both online and used electronic readings earned higher final grades. Students who used the print textbook or were in a F2F section, however, showed more improvement from the pre- to post-test on their knowledge of sociology.

Author

• Stephanie Medley-Rath, Indiana University-Kokomo