Web-Based vs. Traditional Education: Does Distance Education at the Graduate Level Deserve a Failing Grade

Prior research addressing whether differences exist between traditional classroom education and web-based learning has provided inconclusive results (Li, 2002); this is especially true in graduate level classes. The proposed empirical research attempts to explore differences in outcomes from a graduate level MIS course which was taught in a traditional classroom setting as well as in a web-based learning environment. The purpose of the proposed study is to determine whether differences between the two approaches exist, and to identify whether student attributes (employment status and whether the student has children) or educational approach attributes (traditional classroom or web-based environment) affect a student’s learning outcomes. From a qualitative research perspective, the study also will address how satisfied students in the traditional classroom and the web-based environment are with the learning experience