Teaching accounting by distance ed: is it effective?(In Her Own Words)

Distance education has been exploding on campuses nationwide, an especially good alternative for women. The U.S. Education Department reported 56% of two- and four-year schools offered distance ed courses in 2000-2001, up from 44% three years earlier.

This increased focus on distance ed inspired me to evaluate its effectiveness from the point of view of students who took two accounting classes at two different National University locations in California, Sacramento and Stockton.

This was the first time distance ed had been used for accounting classes on both campuses. It uses primarily face-to-face instruction where most students meet in a traditional classroom. But some students elect to take the same class via technology, which used a video conferencing system with a two-way audio/video connection. The system is equipped with document cameras for illustrations and computer displays for Power-Point presentations, both of which are projected on huge screens.

Other studies of distance ed have shown it to be an effective alternative mode of delivering education, if all elements of the system are supported. For example, a 2002 study found that successful distance education programs demand well-balanced operations, including instructional support. Another study concluded that as the number of class interactions increased, the students became more comfortable asking questions, and the instructor was perceived as doing a good job. Those students would be more likely to choose a distance education course in the future.

My survey showed two factors affected the results: the instructor's teaching style and technical support.

Teaching through the camera

Both of the instructors were teaching through distance ed for the first time. There was no training at all in delivery. The technicians simply gave instructions prior to the first class on what buttons to push. The faculty could operate the system to see the off-site class, as well as hear the students' responses and questions. Instructors got direction on how to use the document camera and the computer.