EXAMINING THE INFLUENCE OF AN ON-LINE HOMEWORK SYSTEM ON FINAL EXAMINATION RESULTS IN AN UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS STATISTICS COURSE
GUNAWARDENA EGODAWATTE *
Department of Global Management Studies, Ted Rogers School of Business Management, Ryerson University, 350, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada and Department of Continuing Education, Seneca College, Newnham Campus, 1750, Finch Avenue East, North York, Canada
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The main purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between students’ final examination marks and their on-line homework marks and the impact and effectiveness of the on-line homework process in an undergraduate business statistics course. On-line homework marks and the number of submitted homework assignments were regressed on students’ final examination marks. The Data comprised from a sample of 189 students in an urban Ontario University. Students’ perceptions and their views on the on-line homework system were also recorded from daily email and personal communication with them.
Results indicated that there is a correlation between students’ on-line homework marks and their final examination marks. The steady decline in the submission rates indicated that student motivation has decreased with time. There were jumps in submission rates closer to a test. Many students had not yet realized the long term benefits of doing homework.
Keywords: On-line homework, statistics teaching, student performance, technology in teaching, teacher education, assessment in statistics