The Web-based Classroom Versus the Traditional: is There a Difference?

As many college and university educators embrace the vision of online programs as a means for keeping their institutions afloat in the new century, a pervading cynicism exists among others in academia who question the substance of web-based courses. Have the quality and integrity of academic and vocational programs been compromised in the rapid quest to rise above budget constraints and limitations of brick and mortar campuses to tap into the nearly infinite market of potential students not served by a traditional institution? This book explores the controversy as it documents a quasi-experimental study conducted to determine whether a difference exists in the writing improvement of students enrolled in traditional and Internet sections of English Composition I. The work also features an overview of the history of distance education, the influence of education technology, internal and external factors that may impact the quality of web-based instruction as well as essential components to ensure its value.