Investigating the Relationship Between Students' Online Engagement and Their Online Course Outcomes

• In Event: 52.084 - Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: 52.084-11 - Students' Perceptions, Outcomes, Online Engagement, and Satisfaction

Abstract

This study used data from the fall 2014 semester at Wisconsin Virtual School to examine whether patterns of student engagement in online courses were associated with course out-comes. Using group-based trajectory modeling, the study found that student enrollments in online courses followed one of six engagement patterns, with average engagement ranging from 1.5 hours to 6 or more hours per week. Most students (77 percent) steadily engaged in their online courses for 1.5 or 2.5 hours per week. Students who engaged in their online course for two or more hours per week had better course outcomes than students who engaged for few-er than two hours per week.

Authors

• Peggy Clements, American Institutes for Research

• Heather Lavigne, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Angela Pazzaglia, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Erin Stafford, Education Development Center, Inc.