Benefits of additional online practice opportunities in higher education

Abstract Are exam grades predetermined by students' prior performance and personal characteristics, or can underperforming students catch up? We evaluate whether additional e-learning practice opportunities improve learning outcomes for a group of undergraduate business students enrolled in a university math course (N = 281). During the semester, students were offered two types of voluntary additional e-learning practice opportunities (some earned extra credit, others did not). These practice opportunities incorporated the study techniques of self-testing and spacing, as well as knowledge of correct responses feedback. After controlling for a large number of personal characteristics, we find that voluntary practice has a statistically significant effect on exam performance, which indicates that practicing leads to better grades. Our results show that students currently performing at any level can improve their learning outcomes through additional practice. Furthermore, the overall effect is most significant for weak students who would otherwise be expected to score low on the exam.