e-Learning Through an Electronic Discussion Board: A Comparative Study of Distance Education and On-Campus Students

Many university courses use electronic discussion boards to support student collaboration and learning. The purpose of this research is to compare the attitudes of distance education and on-campus students in the use of an electronic discussion board. Two groups of students – one group situated on campus and the second taking the course at a distance – enrolled in the same introductory Business Law course were surveyed to determine their motivations to participate in an electronic discussion board and their perceptions of the usefulness of the discussion board. While their attitudes to participation differed slightly, overall, both distance education and on-campus students had similar, positive perceptions about the contribution of electronic discussion boards for enhancing learning outcomes.