No student applied the theory to the unique experience of taking a course on-line, however, the students used their narratives to tell the story nonetheless. Great assignment by the way. In summary, students in this study exhibited the familiar kinds of anxiety about achievement in the on-line class. However, they had an additional source of anxiety, i.e., the channel of communication itself. On the other hand, students who were successful in this course seemed to integrate it as experiential learning, not just an academic exercise.
Many factors influence a student's emotional response to the on-line course.
They experience more anxiety than the student in the traditional classroom because they have anxiety about the communication channel itself and whether they are communicating effectively using that channel. Likewise, students who are more familiar with computers and the use of them as a channel of communication seem to have less anxiety about the course. Our inquiry indicates that a unique themes immerged around online education. In general those students that are more self motivated expressed less anxiety when channel dominants the pedagogical communication process. Perhaps other courses merit comparison regarding content.