Table A.1 Introductory Engineering - Reasons for Choosing OL and F2F Courses
Online (n = 57) Face-to-face (n = 272)
11% - Learn Pref 54% - Univ. Constraints 26% - Need Flex 16% - Pref. Flex 4% - Univ. Constraint 88% - Learn. Pref
4% - Peer
Interaction 53% - F2F Full 23% - Course Conflict 16% - General 4% - F2F req. for future 44% - General 4% - Self-
regulation 2% - Commute 20% - Self-regulation
4% - Prof. Interaction 2% - General 16% - Peer interaction
3% - General 10% - Prof. Interaction
7% - Prof. Lecture 3% - Dislike OL
Table A.2
Table A.2 Advanced Anatomy - Reasons for Choosing OL and F2F Courses
Online (n = 61) Face-to-face (n = 71)
20% - Learn Pref Constraints 0% - Univ. 28% - Need Flex 67% - Pref. Flex 15% - Univ. Constraint 87% - Learn. Pref
8% - Pace Control 11% - Employment 34% - Commute 15% - F2F req. for future 35% - Self-regulation 7% - Self-
regulation 11% - Commute 26% - General
30% - Prof. Interaction 3% - General 5% - General 7% - Employment 20% - Peer interaction 2% - Peer
Interaction 3% - Course Conflict 3% - Family 14% - General
10% - Prof. Lecture 10% - Dislike OL
Table A.3
Table A.3 Introductory Chemistry - Reasons for Choosing OL and F2F Courses
Online (n = 126) Face-to-face (n = 157)
24% - Learn Pref 21% - Univ. Constraints 23% - Need Flex 36% - Pref. Flex 1% - Univ. Constraint 97% - Learn. Pref
8% - Pace Control 21% - F2F Full 13% - General 29% - General 1% - F2F req. for future 42% - General 8% - Self-
regulation 8% - Course Conflict 5% - Commute 29% - Self-regulation 8% - General 1% - Employment 2% - Employment 15% - Prof. Lecture
1% - Dislike OL 1% - Family 9% - Prof. Interaction
1% - Peer
Interaction 6% - Peer interaction
6% - Dislike OL 3% - Pace Control
Table A.4
Table A.4 Coding Scheme for Reasons for Choosing OL and F2F Courses
Main
Themes Subcategories Definition Key words/phrases Sample Quote
Need Flexibility Any answer that specifies a reason for why the flexibility is needed
"can't" ; "need" ;
"interfered" "I am unable to come to campus on the days the face-to-face class was offered."
Employment Work commitment is unchangeable, so can't take class in-person "work" ; "conflict"
"Because I work full time during the week and would not be available to attend the in-person class due to my work schedule"
Course Schedule
A different course is taught at the same time as this course's in-person lecture
"same time" ; "conflict"
"Because the face-to-face one conflicts with the other course I am taking."
Family Family obligation completely prohibits taking course in-person "family" ; "kids" "I have to be home during the day to take care of my family."
Prefer Flexibility Any answer about flexibility that indicates preference, but not necessarily need
"prefer" ; "like" ;
"convenient" "I decided to take online course because my time will be more flexible."
Employment
Work commitment makes flexibility helpful for
planning schedule "work"
"I have work obligations, so it would be easier for me scheduling wise to have more freedom for when to take class."
Long commute The drive to campus could be made on a daily basis, but prefer avoiding it "would rather not" "I live 1.5 hours away from the school and would rather take it online than drive back and forth to come to class."
Family Desire to spend time with family/ better fulfill family obligations "family"
"It is summer vacation and I was hoping online would make my schedule a little more flexible so that I could spend more time with my family."
Learning Preferences Any answer that indicates they think this course will be better for their learning "better" "I like online classes better than in class."
Dislike If the student is choosing this course because of an unspecified dislike of the other course "hated" ; "bad experience" "The last time I took a science class online, it didn't end well. Face to face works better for me."
Self-regulation
Concern that they will be less able to stay motivated or complete requirements in the other course modality
"distractions" ; "engagement"; "management"
"I don't feel that I can concentrate in the [other] version of the class."
"More engaging."
Pacing
Student prefers the pacing/ spread of lecture material, either for being spaced out (OL) or
for being all at once (F2F) "own pace" ; "space it out"
"I tend to do a little better in environments where I have the freedom to teach myself and move at a slower or faster pace."
Professor
Interaction Student likes to interact with or ask questions to professor in person
"active learning" ; "relationship" ; "ask"
"The professor is more accessible and I can ask him questions then and there is something in the material doesn't make sense."
Professor
Lecture Student likes to receive lecture while sitting in a classroom "verbal" ; "lecture" ; "sit" "It is easier for me to learn when a professor is lecturing. Verbal lectures help me remember the information more." Peers Student likes to interact or be around other students "peers" ; "classmates" "When a class is offered in-person there are more opportunities to form study groups with other classmates."
University Constraint Student mentions a restriction imposed by the university
F2F full OL student says spots were full in the F2F course "full" "There was no more available spots for her face-to-face course." Need F2F for
higher degree OL is not accepted for student's future program
"doesn't accept OL"
"Most med school and graduate schools require this course to be taken face to face."
Unclassified Responses that do not qualify for above themes
Unsure When response is too short to be sure about classifying response "Better."