A Pandemic of Busywork: Increased Online Coursework Following the Transition to Remote Instruction Is Associated with Reduced Academic Achievement

Autor/inn/en	Motz, Benjamin A.; Quick, Joshua D.; Wernert, Julie A.; Miles, Tonya A.
Titel	A Pandemic of Busywork: Increased Online Coursework Following the Transition to Remote Instruction Is Associated with Reduced Academic Achievement
Quelle	In: Online Learning, 25 (2021) 1, S.70-85 (16 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2472-5749
Schlagwörter	Electronic Learning; Distance Education; Academic Achievement; COVID-19; Pandemics; Homework; Undergraduate Students; Student Surveys; Integrated Learning Systems; Student Attitudes; Measurement Techniques; Learner Engagement; Indiana + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Schulleistung; Hausaufgabe; Schülerbefragung; Schülerverhalten; Messtechnik
Abstract	Under normal circumstances, when students invest more effort in their schoolwork, they generally show evidence of improved academic achievement. But when universities abruptly transitioned to remote instruction in Spring 2020, instructors assigned rapidly-prepared online learning activities, disrupting the normal relationship between effort and outcomes. In this study, we examine this relationship using data observed from a large-scale survey of undergraduate students, from logs of student activity in the online learning management system, and from students' estimated cumulative performance in their courses (n = 4,636). We find that there was a general increase in the number of assignments that students were expected to complete following the transition to remote instruction, and that students who spent more time and reported more effort carrying out this coursework generally had lower course performance and reported feeling less successful. We infer that instructors, under pressure to rapidly put their course materials online, modified their courses to include online busywork that did not constitute meaningful learning activities, which had a detrimental effect on student outcomes at scale. These findings are discussed in contrast with other situations when increased engagement does not necessarily lead to improved learning outcomes, and in comparison with the broader relationship between effort and academic achievement. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Online Learning Consortium, Inc. P.O. Box 1238, Newburyport, MA 01950. Tel: 888-898-6209; Fax: 888-898-6209; e-mail: olj@onlinelearning-c.org; Web site: https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/index
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01