Evaluation of Scalable Applications of Information Technology to On-Campus Learning

Abstract

The University of California, Davis, is transforming large general education courses in a cost-effective way that maintains high academic standards in the face of rising student enrollments. Two multi-year pilot projects have demonstrated the feasibility of using rich on-line learning environments to reduce the dependence on formal lectures. This resulted in more opportunity for interactions in small groups and reduced the constraints of lecture hall capacity on student enrollment. Evaluation of 10 more classes distributed across disciplines by a multidisciplinary group of faculty and staff funded by the Mellon Foundation has three components: student learning, cost, and user profiling.