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The power of cyberlearning: An empirical test

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Abstract

THE CONTROVERSY OVER CYBERLEARNING, as an integral part of the teaching and learning process in higher education, is growing almost as fast as the technology itself. Unfortunately, there are relatively few empirical studies that provide a comprehensive test of the effectiveness of cyberlearning. This exploratory study compares Cyberlearners with Traditional Learners in a graduate-level MBA course in introductory macroeconomics. The findings appear to provide evidence that cyberlearning can be as effective as traditional classroom learning.

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Peter Navarro is an Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Graduate School of Management, University of California, Irvine. He received his Bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Tufts University and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government as well as a Doctorate in economics from Harvard University. He is the author of four books, includingThe Policy Game andThe Dimming of America. He is also the author of two instructional CD-ROMs published by Irwin-McGraw Hill,The Power of Macroeconomics andThe Power of Microeconomics. His articles have appeared in a wide range of publications, from theJournal of Business andJournal of Policy Analysis and Management to theHarvard Business Review andPublic Interest.

Judy Shoemaker is Director, Office of Research, Evaluation and Grants for the Division of Undergraduate Education at the University of California, Irvine. She received her doctoral degree in Educational Psychology and Research Methods from the University of Kansas. Previously, she served as Director of Placement Testing at UCI, Program Officer for the U.S. Department of Education, and Senior Research Associate for the National Assessment of Educational Progress. She has published articles in various educational research journals, was a member of the Board of Directors for the National Council of Measurement in Education, and has served as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board forApplied Measurement in Education. Her professional interests and expertise are in the areas of assessment and program evaluation in higher education.

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Navarro, P., Shoemaker, J. The power of cyberlearning: An empirical test. J. Comput. High. Educ. 11, 29–54 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02940841

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