Exploring Communication and Course Format: Conversation Frequency and Duration, Student Motives, and Perceived Teacher Approachability for Out-of-Class Contact

Authors

  • Catherine F. Brooks University of Arizona
  • Stacy L. Young California State University, Long Beach.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v17i5.2561

Keywords:

out-of-class communication (OCC), extra-class communication (ECC), computer-mediated communication, teacher approachability, hybrid education, online teaching, online learning, course format

Abstract

This study explored how course instructional format (i.e., online, face-to-face, or hybrid) is related to the frequency and duration of out-of-class communication (OCC) between college instructors and students, to student motives for communicating with teachers, and to perceived teacher approachability for conversation outside of class. Though differences in frequency of and student motives for engaging in OCC were not significant, students enrolled in face-to-face courses reported significantly more ongoing/durative OCC with their instructors compared to students enrolled other course types (i.e., online or hybrid). Students in fully online courses reported instructors to seem less receptive to but also less discouraging of OCC than students in face-to-face or hybrid courses. Overall, this study offers a sense of how students who seek informal interaction with instructors beyond the classroom are faring amid the increased reliance on web-based learning environments in higher education.

Author Biographies

Catherine F. Brooks, University of Arizona

Catherine F. Brooks is an Assistant Professor in the School of Information and Department of Communication, University of Arizona.

Stacy L. Young, California State University, Long Beach.

Stacy L. Young is a Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Long Beach.

Published

2016-09-26

How to Cite

Brooks, C. F., & Young, S. L. (2016). Exploring Communication and Course Format: Conversation Frequency and Duration, Student Motives, and Perceived Teacher Approachability for Out-of-Class Contact. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 17(5). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v17i5.2561

Issue

Section

Research Articles