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Student’S Choice: In-Person, Online, Or On Demand? A Comparison Of Instructional Modality Preference And Effectiveness, Melissa Larson, Randall Davies, Anna Steadman, Wai Man Cheng

Student Works

The recent increase in online instruction caused by the 2020 pandemic has reignited the debate over the efficacy of online instruction compared to in-person instruction. This study explored the impact various modes of instruction had on student achievement and compared students’ stated modality preference with their actual attendance behavior. Results show that while most students preferred in-person instruction (74%), only 47% of those who indicated they preferred in-person instruction attended class only in-person. Many attended classes utilizing a modality other than in-person, and several students switched their preferred modality away from in-person instruction. In general, students who attended class using …