Online Learning in Hong Kong: A Preliminary Comparison of the Lecture and Online Versions of a Computing Fundamentals Course

This case study compares students’ learning experience and outcomes in the lecture and online versions of a first-year introductory computing course offered at the Department of Computer Science of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. In spring 2000, 105 mostly first year biology majors completed the lecture-based course. In fall 2000, the online version of the course was offered to 180 mostly first year chemistry majors. The study found no marked differences in overall student learning and satisfaction across the two course versions. However, students of the online course obtained lower results in conceptual learning, but perceived the course as less difficult and slower-pace than the students of the lecture-based course. These differences are interpreted in the context of the Hong Kong educational system.