A Pedagogically-Effective Use of Internet-Based Technologies to Host a Virtual Class Session

A distance learning “experiment” was carried out in an evening MBA class with the dual purpose of: 1) ascertaining whether hosting an online class could be a feasible replacement for a traditional session, and 2) comparing the effectiveness of carrying out an asynchronous bulletin board discussion forum in relation to a synchronous, real-time chat. The preliminary feedback from the participants suggests that an online forum should augment traditional classroom learning as opposed to being viewed as a substitute. Moreover, our findings suggest that a bulletin board posting and/or a synchronous real-time chat ought to be considered as a means of further enhancing the student classroom experience. This effort sets the stage for future research to investigate whether differences in learning styles may influence a student’s acceptance of online learning forums.