In this study, we investigated the effect of type of positive interdependence (roles, rewards, roles-plus-rewards, or Keywords: Cooperative learning, positive interdependence, affiliation, social orientation, roles, rewards, online, asynchronous, distance learning Over the past decade, there has been increased research on using small group methods with college students and other adult learners. According to Johnson, Johnson, and Smith (1998a), the results of this research are impressive when the magnitude of effect sizes in favor of cooperative over competitive and individual methods are considered. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of 39 studies in undergraduate settings points to significant positive effects of

This study examines whether a college orientation course for online programs leads to increased self-efficacy and, if so, which course topics are related to changes in students' self-efficacy. The culminating research question explores whether self-efficacy is related to enrollment persistence. Students' self-efficacy scores improved significantly after taking the orientation course, as measured with a general self-efficacy instrument. In particular, three course topics-characteristics of leadership, personal learning styles, and applying reading comprehension techniques-explained the variance in post-self-efficacy scores at statistically significant levels. For predicting persistence, a model encompassing three topics (characteristics of leadership, personal learning styles, and applying reading comprehension techniques), plus pre-and post -self-efficacy scores, explained 50% of the variance.The number of students enrolling in online education is increasing rapidly; 25.3% of total college enrollment was online during fall 2008 (Allen & Seaman,

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