A Mixed-Methods Assessment of Using an Online Commercial Tutoring System to Teach Introductory Statistics

Figures & data

Table 1. GRE-Quantitative information (Median) of students in Stats I

	Female		Male		Total
	n	Median	n	Median	N	Median
Fall 2005	33	520	12	570	45	525
Fall 2006	24	570	17	600	41	580

Table 2. Descriptive information of exam scores of students in Stats I

		Total Exam Score		Midterm1 (0–50)		Midterm 2 (0–50)		Final (0–60)
Year	N	Mean	Std. Dev.	Mean	Std. Dev.	Mean	Std. Dev.	Mean	Std. Dev.
Fall 2005	45	123.3	24.1	40.7	8.4	40.1	8.8	42.5	10.6
Fall 2006	41	130.2	25.0	42.4	7.6	39.0	10.5	48.8	8.6

Table 3. ANCOVA test of total exam score

Tests of Between-Subjects Effects
Source	Sum of Squares	Df	MS	F	Sig.
GRE_quan	10651.06	1	10651.06	31.48	0.00
AGE	5.61	1	5.61	0.02	0.90
RACE	658.09	1	658.09	1.94	0.17
CLASS type	11.53	1	11.53	0.03	0.85
RACE*CLASS	18.21	1	18.21	0.05	0.82
Error	22332.47	66	338.37
Total	45404.65	71

Notes.

1. R Squared = .508 (Adjusted R Squared = .471)

2. The dependent variable is total exam score.

3. Asian students are excluded due to small sample size

4. Gender is not included because it leads to cell size smaller than 5. A separate t-test shows that no significant performance difference is found between male and female students.

Table 4. Questions on the Fall 2006 Survey

Survey Questions		Med.	Min.	Max.	Mean	Std. Dev.
1.	ALEKS helps with the prerequisite mathematical and algebraic skills I need for learning statistics.	4	1	5	3.3	1.3
2.	Learning in ALEKS is very time-consuming.	5	2	5	4.4	1.1
3.	After learning the required topics in ALEKS, it becomes easier to read and understand the chapters in the textbook.	3	1	5	3.1	1.2
4.	ALEKS allows flexibility in my learning schedule.	3	1	5	3.1	1.5
5.	I wish ALEKS matched better with the book chapters.	5	2	5	4.3	0.9
6.	I complete the required ALEKS topics on time.	4	1	5	3.8	1.3
7.	I attend optional classes.	4	1	5	3.5	1.6
8.	The assessments in ALEKS frustrate me.	5	1	5	4.2	1.2
9.	I would enjoy ALEKS more if the program requires less computer skills.	2	1	5	2.1	1.0
10.	ALEKS added more anxiety in learning statistics.	4	1	5	3.8	1.4
11.	Limited internet access interferes my learning in ALEKS.	2	1	5	2.1	1.2
12.	ALEKS helps my understanding of the lectures in the required-attendance classes.	3	1	5	3.1	1.3
13.	I really think I would do better in this class if it were taught in traditional classroom format.	3	1	5	3.1	1.5
14.	Overall, I enjoy online learning.	3.5	1	5	3.3	1.2
15.	I think the class format is working, but changes are needed to make the ALEKS program a better fit.	4	1	5	3.8	1.2