ALN For AIS: A Case Study of The Application of an Asynchronous Learning Networks Approach to an Accounting Information Systems Course

Abstract

Many universities are implementing courses taught over the Internet. Much of the work in this regard falls under the definition of Asynchronous Learning Networks (ALN).  Development of ALN techniques has been widely supported by grants from the Alfred P. Sloan foundation over the last five years. ALN courses are anytime, anywhere applications and are applicable to university courses taught on campus, off campus and through extension facilities. ALN elements and techniques are evolving but there is general agreement regarding some approaches.  This paper will explore the development of ALN applications generally and will describe the application of the approach to an Accounting Information Systems course at a Western state university. The description will report on techniques employed, how they worked, how they were received by students, what will be added the next time, what will be changed in the future, and an overall assessment of how the course was perceived.