Requiring Certain Physical Enhancements For Internet Courses: A Survey

Abstract

Use of the Internet continues to increase and new technology provides more and better communication options.  A questionnaire was distributed to chairpersons of accounting departments to obtain their views on requiring some of these newer physical enhancements on a student’s computers when they register for an E course.  Respondents strongly favored requiring students to provide a digital photo ID and audio capabilities when registering for an E course but rejected the idea of requiring them to provide a web cam that might be used for verifying their identity.  They also tended to believe, even though they did not endorse requiring one, students should use a web cam when completing examinations on-line and that faculty should compare the photo ID with the web cam image.  However, they do not believe that students should be required to use a web cam when completing homework assignments or that faculty should compare the photo ID with the web cam image.  Overall accounting chairs endorse requiring the student who enrolls in an E course to obtain some existing technology and they expect the student to be prepared to spend more than $100 to obtain the technology