Learning- and cost-effectiveness of a Web-enhanced linear circuits course

During the past four years, a new version of the basic linear circuits course, which incorporates Web-based learning technology in the homework, has been developed at the University of Southern California. The software used for this purpose is Mallard®, which is especially useful because it has the mathematical and computational functionality necessary for the problems in this course. The current project focuses on the quantitative cost- and learning-effectiveness of the use of this educational technology in this course. Data on two critical issues are being acquired: 1) whether the course with its substantial online asynchronous homework component is as effective as a traditional synchronous course with similar content but with pen and paper homework; and 2) the comparative costs of two modes on instruction. The plan is to compare the modified online course with a traditional course on the same material, and to measure cost and learning outcomes in each case during a span of four semesters. Initial results of the comparison are presented.