Analysis of delivery methods for online andragynous students

The problem. The problem addressed by this study was the reliance by universities on traditional pedagogical methods to provide an appropriate online learning environment for androgynous students. Universities must evaluate the needs of adult learners and incorporate them into future Internet-based distance education courses. The delivery modalities are critical to the efficacy of courses offered online. Analysis of the opinions of androgynous students about synchronous and asynchronous delivery methods may provide knowledge that educators, designers, and providers of Internet-based online programs can use for development of new distance education courses.; Method. This study utilized historical data collected over the years 1999--2001 from National University (NU) online students as a Student End of Course Survey (NU Survey). The student population at National University reflected opinions of traditionally defined androgynous populations. The NU Survey contained 5 specific questions related to the purposes of this research study.; Results. The response patterns indicated strong support for Threaded Discussion (asynchronous) environments within the total sample from the School of Business and the School of Education. The responses for Chatroom (synchronous) environments varied between the School of Business, which indicated support for the Chatroom environment, and the School of Education, which displayed little support. The School of Business indicated undergraduates spent more time in Threaded Discussion (asynchronous) environments than did graduate students. The School of Education responses were reversed, with the graduate responses indicating more time spent in Threaded Discussions than the undergraduate responses. The School of Business and School of Education both responded that undergraduate and graduate students spent equal time in the Chatroom (synchronous) environment and less time in Threaded Discussions. Comments centered on several themes: First, many students within the School of Business complained about mandatory Chatroom attendance at preset times. Within the School of Education, most of the negative comments came from the workload and high number of Threaded Discussions assigned per week.