Accepted Papers from TCEA Symposium 2008

Preliminary Study: The Impact of Learning
Environments upon Students’
Evaluations of the Instructor

Marion S. Smith
Texas Southern University

Richard A. Smith
University of Houston-Clear Lake

Caroline M. Crawford
University of Houston-Clear Lake

ABSTRACT: The focus upon learning environments over the previous fifteen year period has seen a shift from face-to-face to hybrid to online learning environments. This study reports the results and implications of a preliminary review of one graduate course, wherein the only differentiating factor is the learning environment through which the course was presented to the student. Findings of interest include (a) web-based courses gave the highest scores to five of the eight items in the area of knowledge, (b) face-to-face courses gave the lowest scores to five of the eight items in the area of knowledge, and (c) web-based courses gave the lowest scores to six of the nine items in the area of instructional strategies. Implications for learning environments and future research are discussed.