Is Online Education More Effective Than Traditional Learning?
One of the fastest growing uses of technology is for online education. Student enrollment in online university degree programs has increased in recent years, but more interesting is the increase in kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) students who are foregoing recess and pep rallies to study in virtual classrooms.
K12 is the largest provider of accredited online learning for grades K-12. It offers tuition-free and private supplemental learning, blended online/offline programs, and full-time online programs in the United States and internationally. K12 allows students to learn at their own level and has a strong social community with regularly sponsored events.
Great as all this sounds, the trend towards online learning raises the question of just how effective online education is compared to traditional education. According to a recent study conducted by SRI International for the US Department of Education, online learners perform slightly better than students in traditional face-to-face classrooms. The study analyzed research that compared online and conventional learning at institutions of higher education and in K-12 settings between 1996 and 2008.
A key finding of the report is that students doing partial or all course work online rank, on average, in the 59th percentile, meaning better than 59% of all those who were scored; whereas students in traditional classrooms ranked in the 50th percentile. Though this significant difference doesn't quite mean the end of institutional schools, it will help put an end to the myth that online learning is inferior to traditional learning. It will also help foster greater interest in developing technology geared specifically to education. No doubt, we will see online schools for K-12 pop up everywhere.
Already a giant in online university degrees, Kaplan has begun offering programs for students in grades 6 to 12, tailored to each learner. The company also runs the Kaplan Academy, a tuition-free online public high school available in six states. Kaplan has over 70 years of experience in distance learning and will likely see its numbers soar as more students (supported by their parents) opt for non-traditional schooling, in the hope of improving their chances of being admitted to their college of choice.
With social networks, slidesharing, IM, video and more at their disposal, students are finding it easier to get homework help, attend seminars, and even learn new languages. And educators can connect at a global level to discuss lesson plans and offer seminars.
Although Twitter may not penetrate the classroom just yet, social media help students maintain an active social life beyond the classroom. One of the biggest myths about online education is that students will become socially inept. Instead, learning online allows students to study at their own pace, usually opening up hours for sports, hobbies, volunteer work, and time with friends. Most programs also allow students to study what interests them. Not that learning online is easier. In fact, quite the opposite: students require tremendous discipline and excellent time management skills, two qualities that Insight Schools uses to promote its program. Insight Schools operates a network of tuition-free, accredited, online public high schools. Students receive their own laptop, as well as personalized education tailored to their lifestyle.
One would imagine that high school and college students are more likely to take advantage of online programs, but homeschooling has existed as long as education has, so it's a viable option for those in younger grades as well. Some children have special needs and talents, others have disabilities or simply struggle in the class. Parents looking for an alternative to traditional schooling for their child now have options other than special classes, tutoring and expensive private schools. Online education offers students more one-on-one time with their instructors. And, as a bonus, most K-12 online programs are inexpensive or even tuition-free.
Guest author: Jodi Church, better known as tinythoughts, is a writer and social media enthusiast who has worked as an online communications manager for both Mister Wong and Lifestream.fm.
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Online Education is definitely an complement of traditional learning. However, face to face learning such as private tutoring is still very effective for some students who need help in their studies.
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Traditional learning is still effective to a beginner. Online is only a support.
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Yes,I think distance learning will strong complement of traditional learning withing near future..To know more you may visit my blog
http://technologybrief.blogspot.com/2009/09/which-is-more-effectiveonline-education.html
Hi,
Traditional learning is an ordinary tactic having greater impacts and influence on the students while Online education is set to provide ease in the process of learning. It is subjected to make learning easier for students.
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Online learning is as good as traditional education, and gives anumber of people an opportunity to acquire more knowledge, but still go on with daily activities, for children it makes learning interesting as can be accessed anywhere without having to lock yourself in the classrooms to learn anything significant.
I'm having trouble finding the place in that meta-analysis where it talks about the percentile ranks of students. Can you provide a page number for that please?
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September 7, 2009 6:40 AM
Wonderful article! I think that is a great idea to offer online education to younger groups. There are many kids that have a hard time in a formal classroom setting that would really benefit from this type of offer.
Technology is advancing every day and I think that it is important to help our kids move along with it. I think that the self-paced atmosphere that is offered online really helps people reach their potential.
I think that online education has its ups and downs but it is very unique compared to the traditional way of learning. I believe that the trend will continue to be in favor of online education as more and more people realize the comfort and ease of getting a degree online.
E-based learning has given enough opportunities now for everybody who wants to learn conveniently. The online learning process now has been a vehicle for a more effective learning experience and it allows more options.
I completely agree with sirvan: "Traditional learning is still effective to a beginner. Online is only a support."
I think online learning should replace tutoring, but not replace learning in the classroom. Online learning is a resource to support traditional learning. Sites like Thinkwell.com and MindBites.com are exceptionally good to use for this type of learning support. See additional links for more info:
MindBites, educational videos on every classroom subject imaginable: http://www.mindbites.com/category/5-education
Thinkwell, educational videos on math, science, and liberal arts: http://www.thinkwell.com/
This reminds me of a case study I posted last year on one of our customers - a professor at the University of Houston - who found that students enrolled in a class that used blended learning (both classroom and online) earned, on average, a full letter grade higher than those who did not have the online component.
Here's the case study: Use Articulate, Get Better Grades.
These findings are interesting.
In the early 1990's Theodore Krein and I completed a research study at Ernst & Young that compared classroom to e-learning. Our study group was comprised of new audit candidates, who were attending an aduit skills 4 week training (fondly know as "boot camp.").
We developed the e-Learning from the classroom material to ensure a match in objectives. Our results were very close to the results stated. The experimental group scored 10% higher than the control group (the group's were given identical tests) and averaged 30% less time in the learning activity (time was measured and recorded for each person in the experiemental group and recorded on a spreadsheet).
The learners in the experiemental group were interviewed after the learning activity. Some of the comments included:
- They liked the e-learning, because they could complete the material at their own pace and could review as needed
- They liked the feddback -- the participants answered questions as the course progressed, but they completed case studies and answered questions about the work papers they were reviewing and completing)
- They missed some of the classroom interaction, but they liked not having to listen to questions that were repeated several times or some of the misdirected questions
- They liked the blended approach
- They would like to has some discussion with others in the class (they could talk to a coach, but not to other participants)
Some later uses showed surprising results for ESL participants in a Tax boot camp where multimedia e-Learning was piloted. The ESL participants on average scored 25 to 30% higher on content covered in e-Learning then they scored on content covered in a traditional classroom setting. We observed that these students completed the e-Learning much slower (50 to 100% londer completion times than native american english speakers) and that they spent a great deal of time referring to their language dictionaries.
Thanks for the article.
Timothy Maholm, CPT
Very nice article. The thing I like most about online learning is that students can learn at their own pace in ways that are most natural for them.
I agree that online learning will require students to be very disciplined.
I wonder how working parents will facilitate their children's online education. Perhaps we might see something like learning center's where they will provide computing facilities, guidance, and camaraderie among students.
I have also created a rather simple community website which curates various computer science courses from around the web and offers them in one place along with tools for interaction. I am really excited about the potential of online learning.
--
Regards
Parag
great article jodi....just think no more bullying?! these days our children have plenty of social interaction with others that a traditional classroom just isn't necessary..
As a long time educator in the ESL field, I have to say I have seen a dramatic increase in the effectiveness and efficiency of On line learning.
More at this link if you care to take a look:
http://internationalselfstudyacademy.blogspot.com/2009/09/introduction.html
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فيديو كليب أجنبي
I dont think so that online education is more effective than traditional learning because online learning is some harmful and on online no one learns properly so as per my experience or my concern traditional learning is best..
Online learning has been growing quite fast and many big shots like Kaplan and Princeton review are moving the online way for ease and adaptability.
Another option which I found very effective for my exam preps was www.funnelbrain.com. They have a large repository of flashcards and they have a assessment tool incorporated through which the learning curve can also be determined.
Hope someone finds this useful.
Sorry for not providing the right link in the previous note
FunnelBrain
Combining online and offline education is here to stay and should be embraced. Recently, in an article in Carribean Buisness, they report that Puerto Rico has chosen Woogi World, a virtual social environment for children 6-12 to provide the additional hours of education children need while freeing up teachers to do other tasks. Supported by Intel and Harvard University, this is a powerful program that engages and motivates children in the 21st century. Find the article at (http://caribbeanbusinesspr.twi.bz/a)
I am a firm believer in the efficacy of an on-line education. I have used web based classes for my own continuing education at every opportunity. For me, the convenience of learning when & where I want without wasting time on transportation or classmates with repetitive questions is more than worth it. I think whether you combine traditional education, web based education, or both with social networking, we will see an exponential growth in learning.
I am currently a student at Penn State's World Campus, all of my classes are on line, full length semesters. Deciding to enroll with PSU has been one of my best desisions, ever. I do believe that the quality of education that I have been involved with is very similar to on campus classes. My instructors are the same as on campus and our exams are fully proctored. Also, when I graduate with my Degree it is full strength!!! Just like students on campus!! Can't wait till my commencement. We are Penn State!!