International Journal of Distance Education Technologies, 8(2), 1-13, April-June 2010 1
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Keywords: Classroom Learning, Critical Thinking, Distance Education, Online Learning, Technology
and Learning Technology-Enhanced Learning, Traditional Learning
introduCtion
Untold studies have looked at the effect of
courses delivered in a traditional classroom
setting, using traditional delivery methods
versus courses delivered with some technology
integration, usually in the form of PowerPoint
presentations within the classroom and, in some
cases, Internet access, to courses at the far end
of the spectrum taught via distance education
technologies (Wittrock, 1986; O’Shea & Self,
1983; McEuen, 2001; Chism, 2004; Barak,
Harwood, & Lerman, 2007; Yeh, 2009). Da-
vis (1989) has shown that system use is tied
to user’s perceptions, while Keengwe (2007)
technological supports for
onsite and distance education
and students’ Perceptions
of acquisition of thinking
and team-Building skills
Jennifer D. E. Thomas, Pace University, USA
Danielle Morin, Concordia University, Canada
aBstraCt
This paper compares students’ perceptions of support provided in the acquisition of various thinking and
team-building skills, resulting from the various activities, resources and technologies (ART) integrated into
an upper level Distributed Computing (DC) course. The fndings indicate that students perceived strong sup-
port for their acquisition of higher-order thinking skills and team-building skills from the offine resources,
but moderate support from the online resources and technologies provided in the course, which was in
opposition to the grades received. It also seems that those in the traditional computer lab setting perceived
online resources as more supportive of higher-order thinking skills than those in other sections and those in
the electronic classroom perceived the least support. The results were mixed for team-building skills and for
offine resources support for higher-order thinking skills. In particular, distance students deemed the text and
material in Blackboard less important for developing these skills than onsite students.
DOI: 10.4018/jdet.2010040101