The Results Of A Longitudinal Study Of The Effects Of Network Delays On Learning

Abstract

The use of interactive web-based teachingmaterials has become an indelible feature of the educational landscape over thelast decade especially for technical subjects such as engineering andmathematics. While web-based simulations present great opportunity to providestudents with the feedback needed for the acquisition of new concepts, it hasbeen demonstrated that even small network delays can adversely affect thepedagogical efficacy of these simulations. In the present work a longitudinalstudy is performed to examine the effects of network delay on learning asstudent’s progress from freshmen to senior year.  Findings indicate that by the time studentshave progressed to their senior year, they have taken on a more conservativelearning style and that their learning style is less sensitive to networkdelays than it was when they were freshmen. The study suggests that the accumulation of experience is an importantfactor in mitigating the effects of network delay on learning.