The Georgia webBSIT: profile of an online student

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the development of a profile of students in the Georgia Web Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Georgia WebBSIT) a fully online baccalaureate degree program jointly developed and offered by five institutions within the University System of Georgia (USG). The program enrolled its first students in August 2004 and saw its first graduates in May 2008.

The initial student target market for this program included: people who interrupted their education to take jobs as soon as they had enough skills to work in IT and who would now like to complete their degrees; other working undergraduates with particular imperatives for "any time/any place" learning; stay-at-home parents who wish to improve their skills; and separating military personnel who would like to retrain and remain in Georgia. An analysis of the demographic data of students includes that of students who have graduated as well as dropped out of the program. The results are compared to the initial target market as well as to the profile of online students reported in the literature. Additional analyses are used to develop a profile of online students as well as indicators of success.

The findings are proposed to be of interest to others preparing to design and deliver online computing programs with respect to identifying target audiences, marketing, filtering initial inquiries and selection of potentially successful candidates. Additional implications to pedagogy and delivery methods are considered.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Information systems education

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Management, Performance

Keywords:
distance education, e-learning, online learning