Evaluating an asynchronous graduate degree program

Over the past three years, Drexel University's College of Information Science and Technology, USA, has developed asynchronous (any time/any place) learning environments for undergraduate and graduate students. Beginning in fall 1996, Drexel launched an entirely asynchronous Master of Science in Information Systems degree. The hallmarks of the fully asynchronous degree are: (1) students never gather for traditional face-to-face classes; (2) students and faculty engage in an active learning experience by network; (3) the degree content and requirements are the same in both traditional and asynchronous offerings; and (4) students learn to work using tools and techniques of distributed work environments. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the Drexel project and their experience during the first years of this effort. Next, they discuss techniques and instruments they are using to evaluate the project both within the ALN environment and in comparison to traditional degree program delivery. Finally, they present some results from the first years of the effort.