Research Findings 1

Research Findings for Online Learning

Sean Keasling

EdTech 571

Dr. Jeremy Tutty

August 3, 2008
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Research Findings for Online Learning

Fifteen years ago, my uncle decided he wanted to advance his education and career by

attaining a master’s degree. At that time, online degree programs were severely limited due to

the lack of the wide spread internet use. The nearest university to my uncle was University of

Denver, approximately 60 miles away. While he was taking master classes, a typical “school”

day for him would consist of going to work for eight hours as a high school counselor, a one

hour commute to the University of Denver campus, three hours in a classroom, and then a one

hour drive home to finish the day. If online learning had been available during this period, it

would have made life much more convenient for my uncle. As we continue to become a society

more dependent upon technology and the internet, the online aspect of learning will grow

exponentially. Today, we will review what exactly the online learning environment is, discuss

the role of online educations, review the characteristics of online learning, and how the impact of

sudden growth has presented some challenges to finding a quality online program.

The Online Learning Environment

An online learning environment can be described as “a system that creates an

environment designed to facilitate teachers in the management of educational courses for their

students, especially a system using computer hardware and software, which involves distance

learning” (History of Virtual Learning Environments 2008). This environment makes the many

different degree paths offered at numerous institutions possible.

Online learning has been growing swiftly within the last few years. Universities are

offering online courses and degree programs in order to “improve on the rate of degree

completion, and to appeal to the desires of the non-traditional degree seeking student” (Allen &
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Seaman 2007). Students, like myself, are able to take courses online and never have to step foot

on a campus. Many people are afforded opportunities to continue or advance their education,

around their own schedule, at their own pace, and from their own home, where the opportunity

for education did not present before. In a 2007 study by I. Elaine Allen, Ph.D., and Jeff Seaman,

Ph.D., statistics show that about 3.5 million students were taking online classes in the Fall 2006

semester; in addition to nearly twenty percent of all U.S. higher education students were taking

at least one online course.

The Role of the Educator

The role of the educator/facilitator in the online coursework is extremely important to the

success of a program. Online teachers provide the structure needed to meet the learning needs of

each student. An online teacher is responsible for designing the course framework, giving

assignments, assessing students learning and progression, in addition to engaging the students in

learning. Also, the instructor is responsible for providing opportunities for class discussion and

interaction. Communication between the student and instructor is very important. Use of e-

mail, instant messaging, and discussion boards are a few way to promote and strengthen the

interaction. Without quality educators to facilitate the online education, the quality of education

will suffer for the students.

Characteristics of Online Learning

Online learning has many characteristics that are very appealing for prospective and

current students. Some aspects as to why online education is appealing to many students are

outlined in “What are the Pros & Cons of Online Schools?” found at

http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/. These include:

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1. Convenience: Students can take online courses at any time, as many universities

offer various starting times for online course work, not just during the traditional

starting times of the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

2. Flexibility: A student can work on the program at their own rate. They can pace

themselves and complete the degree on his or her own schedule. Many students can

decide on a course load that fits within the time frame available for them. Students

can take one class at a time or four classes in a semester.

3. Availability: The number of credible, accredited universities offering online

coursework is increasing, with multiple degree options. As online learning becomes

more mainstream, many universities are starting to add more courses to their virtual

college to provide more diverse options to the degree seeking student.

4. Cost: The cost of undergoing an online degree program is usually less expensive than

the normal, traditional program. Some online universities are 100% virtual, and do

not even have a physical campus, which helps to keep overhead costs to a minimum.

In addition, a student attending an online program will not have to pay for on campus

meal and/or housing fees to stay on campus or off campus.

5. Zero travel expenses: No commuting required, as all learning takes place at home.

Although, the option for attending graduation is available.

6. No interruptions: Students do not have to take a leave of absence from their current

job; they can just fit the coursework into their current daily schedule.
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Each of these characteristics is important factors when determining why a student should take an

online course. In addition, characteristics like these are what make online learning appealing to

many students, especially non-traditional students.

Course content for an online program can be given in two different types of learning

environments, asynchronous and synchronous. According to www.guidetoonlineschools.com

both of these are described as:

1. Asynchronous: Teacher and student interact but not at the same time. There is

usually a delay in communication and feedback. In this type of setting there is a lot

of student freedom and choice, but it requires self discipline in order to succeed.

2. Synchronous: Student and teacher are interacting at the same time in a classroom or

chat room setting. This type of instruction is for the student who needs immediate

feedback or instruction in order to progress through their learning

As some students are more independent, the asynchronous environment may work best for

them as they have the freedom to complete course at their own pace. Also, if a person is

unable to participate in an online class with a set time for a virtual class or a chat room, then

this student may want to look for classes which are asynchronous, as they can participate in

the class according to their personal schedule. The student who excels better with immediate

interaction and communication with a teacher and/or classmates will benefit more with the

synchronous method.

Impact of Sudden Growth

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Unfortunately, due the expanding nature of online learning, it has become a lucrative

business and there has been a rise in number of diploma mills. A diploma mill can be described

as an institution that takes your money, even offers classes that look legitimate, but is not an

accredited institution. Needless to say, receiving a degree from a diploma mill will not ensure

that this degree will be viewed as valid or assist with finding a job (Degree Mills 2008). This is

why it is important to find an institution that is accredited, which is a way that an institution

shows that they are meeting all of the standards set forth by the government. Finding a college

that is accredited is a good way to ensure that a person is choosing the right program.

Earlier this year, during my time researching which online program that met my ongoing

education needs, I was able to read some reviews about people who underwent coursework at a

degree mill. Some of the experiences that they described were lack of communication from the

instructor, high cost of materials (technology, books, fees), not earning a credible degree to help

gain employment, and lack of reliability of the web based programs. One person’s review that I

read said that the web based software program they were using was very prone to crashing

numerous times and would not allow access for days at a time. These are but a few signs of a

bad online learning institution.

In addition, here are some characteristics that help distinguish a good online program

from a bad one. These include course content being based on up-to-date state and/or national

standards, opportunities for engaged learning, defined assessment strategies, reliability of

technology delivery system, a well defined course structure, certification of the instructors, and

instructional materials that meet the program standards (Topic: Online Teaching and Learning

2005).
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In conclusion, online learning is growing fast and more colleges are providing varying

coursework and degree paths. As the internet has become so widely available, many people are

utilizing online programs to further their education as these opportunities were not as available

years ago. The educators for an online program play a key role for the success of the students

and the program. Students need to make sure that they find an institution and classes that best

meets their needs such as learning method and time flexibility. There are good and bad online

learning programs and it t is important for a student to do their research and decide which online

learning program is the best for them. Many students are starting to take the path of online

learning due to the convenience, accessibility, affordability, and flexibility of many of these

programs offered, and these numbers will continue to grow.

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References

Allen, I. Elaine, Ph.D. & Jeff Seaman, Ph.D. (2007, October) Online Nation: Five Years of

Growth in Online Learning. Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://www.sloan-

c.org/publications/survey/index.asp

Degree Mills. (2008) In Guidetoonlineschools.com. Retrieved July 25, 2008, from

http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/degree-mills.html

History of virtual learning environments. (2008, July 23). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?

title=History_of_virtual_learning_environments&oldid=227350767

Topic: Online Teaching and Learning. (2005) Center for Applied Research in Educational

Technology (CARET). Retrieved on July 25, 2008, from http://caret.iste.org/index.cfm?

fuseaction=evidence&answerID=49

What are the Pros & Cons of Online Schools? (2008) In Guidetoonlineschools.com. Retrieved

July 25, 2008, from http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/what-are-the-pros-cons-of-

online-schools.html