Does Location Matter?

Online learning in higher education has grown significantly over the past decade, with millions of students engaging with online learning tutorials and assessments. However, the effectiveness of online learning is less understood, particularly whether students achieve the same learning gains when taking online assessments at home versus in a classroom environment. In this study, student performance was measured using a 10-question assessment at the end of each tutorial. Overall assessment scores were run through a 2-parameter logistic model to adjust for variation between the four different assessments and their variants. Scores were then compared between students who completed the modules in-class versus at home. Results showed small to negligible differences in performance between the two groups, with course-related factors explaining more variance in student scores than the location in which the assessment was taken. These findings suggest that well-designed digital tutorials with integrated feedback may provide comparable learning outcomes, whether used in class or remotely.