Online Short Summer Course vs. Full Semester In-Person Course Outcomes

Online education exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many colleges and universities switching to synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction. While online instruction made the provision of course material possible and, perhaps, more efficient, there is speculation that the quality of online education pales in comparison to in-person instruction. This paper examines differences in course outcomes for an undergraduate criminal law class taught both in-person and asynchronously online across six semesters (three courses were in-person, three courses were online). Results indicated minor differences in the two modes of delivery. The overall class average and exam average were slightly higher in the online classes. While discussion grades between the two modes of delivery were similar, results indicated that Black and Hispanic students had lower discussion grades across both modes of delivery.