Now Compelling Evidence that Online Learning Works!
There is now compelling evidence that online learning has pipped face-to-face learning at the post. The nose is just ahead though. But this is significant since till now it was felt that the race between online learning and face-to-face learning was a dead heat at best.
A study conducted by U.S. Department of Education Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development Policy and Program Studies Service has concluded that online learning has surged ahead of face-to-face learning. The report is now in the public domain.
The motivation of this study was: Online learning — for students and for teachers — is one of the fastest growing trends in educational uses of technology. The National Center for Education Statistics (2008) estimated that the number of K-12 public school students enrolling in a technology-based distance education course grew by 65 percent in the two years from 2002 – 03 to 2004 – 05. On the basis of a more recent district survey, Picciano and Seaman (2009) estimated that more than a million K – 12 students took online courses in school year 2007 – 08. (Page 12)
The genesis of online learning is distance learning. Distance learning has been around for over a century now. But the advantage of the World Wide Web has caused the online learning to explode.
The study focuses on the two main purposes of online learning:
(a) Learning conducted totally online as a substitute or alternative to face-to-face learning
(b) Online learning components that are combined or blended (sometimes called “hybrid”)
with face-to-face instruction to provide learning enhancement
Findings:
The overall finding of the meta-analysis is that classes with online learning (whether taught completely online or blended) on average produce stronger student learning outcomes than do classes with solely face-to-face instruction. (Page 38)
This is a significant tilt towards online learning. Earlier studies had concluded that online learning is only as effective as face-to-face learning. The second area of study also gave thumbs up to online learning. It said:
Blends of online and face-to-face instruction, on average, had stronger learning outcomes than did face-to-face instruction alone (Page 39)
Clearly, it makes sense for companies to move over to online learning and elearning, where possible. Not only will it cut costs but will also be a substantially better experience both for learners and teachers.
