Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication Analog vs. Digital Instruction and Learning: Teaching Within First and Second Life Environments

Pre- and postsurveys were administered and analyzed regarding student knowledge of course content and attitudes concerned with the instruction for two groups of students for the same class—one taught completely in a traditional, face-to-face classroom setting and the other taught completely online with Blackboard and Second Life software products. Both groups were taught by the same instructor. Results indicate that online students learned just as much and enjoyed the teaching experience just as well as their traditional counterparts. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2009.01449.x ‘‘Well presented and engaging for students. Active examples that clearly demonstrate course material.’’ Student in a face-to-face visual communications class ‘‘I really liked doing Second Life. That was a lot of fun, and it was just something cool and new.’’ Student in a Second Life visual communications class With online, web-based instruction a popular alternative to classroom teaching, several studies have been conducted to show if there are significant differences between face-to-face and online classes. As student ask for more flexible educational experiences (being able to take classes on a computer from home or work) and as are administrators concerned about space restrictions with crowded on-campus auditoria, instructors and researchers have been asked to investigate whether teaching an online class is a benefit or a hindrance to the educational experience for students. This study adds to this growing body of research by comparing the learning experience of students in traditional visual communication courses to those taking the same course via online instruction. The course selected for this study provide