Learning Online: What Research Tells Us About Whether, When and How

Learning Online: What Research Tells Us About Whether, When and How

<P>At a time when more and more of what people learn both in formal courses and in everyday life is mediated by technology, <EM>Learning Online</EM> provides a much-needed guide to different forms and applications of online learning. This book describes how online learning is being used in both K-12 and higher education settings as well as in learning outside of school. Particular online learning technologies, such as MOOCs (massive open online courses), multi-player games, learning analytics, and adaptive online practice environments, are described in terms of design principles, implementation, and contexts of use. </P> <P><EM>Learning Online</EM> synthesizes research findings on the effectiveness of different types of online learning, but a major message of the book is that student outcomes arise from the joint influence of implementation, context, and learner characteristics interacting with technology--not from technology alone. The book describes available research about how best to implement different forms of online learning for specific kinds of students, subject areas, and contexts. </P> <P><EM></EM></P> <P>Building on available evidence regarding practices that make online and blended learning more effective in different contexts, <EM>Learning Online</EM> draws implications for institutional and state policies that would promote judicious uses of online learning and effective implementation models. This in-depth research work concludes with a call for an online learning implementation research agenda, combining education institutions and research partners in a collaborative effort to generate and share evidence on effective practices.</P>