As online education continues to expand in the United States and worldwide, studies have been conducted to see if online learning is beneficial. As indicated in The Effectiveness of Online and Blended Learning, the growth of instructional technology resources and collaborative learning tools have contributed to “raising expectations for the effectiveness of online learning.” Per this study, not only have the expectations been raised, but learning outcomes indicate that students in the online learning environment may perform slightly better than students in the face-to-face classroom.
Benefits of Online Learning
So, what are some of the benefits of online learning? For starters, students are provided access to a variety of course materials such as syllabi, assignments, scoring guides, PowerPoint presentations, and supplemental materials 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making access to course materials time- and place-independent (Li, Chi-Sung, and Irby, B., 2002). Online content, such as videos, interactive simulations, or recorded lectures, can be listened to or practiced multiple times providing students with ample time to ensure understanding of the subject matter. A learning environment with such flexible access to course materials benefits different learning styles, such as visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. In addition, students can contact their teachers one-on-one with questions at any time through email or an established means of communication via their online learning environment. This can provide students who may not initially speak up in class with expanded opportunities to communicate with their teachers.
What To Consider Regarding Online Learning
Is online learning suitable for your child? To be successful in a distance learning environment, certain skills are required, such as “writing and communication skills, time management, organizational skills, and the ability to work independently (Deal, W.F. III, 2002). Students may feel isolated so it’s important to practice good communication with the teacher and for the student to stay on task with course assignments. According to research, students need to stay engaged and interact with the teacher and peers in the online learning environment to succeed (Hannum, W.H., & McCombs, B.L. 2008).
Sources
Li, C.-S., & Irby, B. (2008). An overview of online education: attractiveness, benefits, challenges, concerns and recommendations. College Student Journal, 42(2), 449+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A179348426/ITOF?u=dclib_main&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=300d097e
Deal, W. F., III. (2002, May-June). Distance learning: teaching technology online. (Resources In Technology). The Technology Teacher, 61(8), 21+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A87146664/ITOF?u=dclib_main&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=bc723597
Hannum, W. H., & McCombs, B. L. (2008). Enhancing Distance Learning for Today’s Youth with Learner-Centered Principles. Educational Technology, 48(3), 11–21. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44429573