| This quantitative study used the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), transformative learning theory, and high-impact practices to investigate the effects of the student engagement strategies which online colleges employ. Student engagement refers to the learning environment, learning community, student support team, as well as social engagement opportunities. These concepts served as independent variables which were evaluated in terms of their ability to affect student development. Student development refers to students' intellectual, emotional, political, and overall development.;A random sample of online college seniors and recent alumni (within 5 years of graduation) (N=186) from 36 online bachelor degree programs across the United States completed a brief questionnaire. The student engagement variables were measured in terms of how frequently they engaged in various activities and with various individuals. The intellectual, emotional, and political student development variables measured how capable students felt performing various tasks before as well as after studying at their online college. Overall growth was measured by asking participants whether they believed they grew intellectually, emotionally, and politically as a result of studying at their online college.;The results indicated statistically significant positive correlations between the online learning environment and all student development variables. They indicate a similar relationship between all student engagement variables and overall growth. The results also show that three of four student development variables (overall growth, intellectual growth, and emotional growth) can be predicted by student engagement. The most significant predictor was the online learning environment. |
