Online learning continues as a higher education growth area

In a post last year, Is online learning ready to become a disruptive technology? (June 29, 2009), I discussed the recent Department of Education study that compared learning outcomes in online classes to those in more traditional face-to-face classes.  In general, the studies found that students in the online courses learned more.  I suggested that these results indicated that online learning was finally growing up, and becoming a serious competitor for our more traditional modes of presentation. 

 The recently released report of the Sloan Consortium, Learning on Demand: Online Education in the United States, 2009, adds interesting data to this discussion.   The study showed that the number of students in degree-granting postsecondary institutions taking at least one online course increased 17% from fall 2007 to fall 2008.  From 2002 to 2008, there was an annual compound growth rate of 19% in the number of students taking at least one course online. In the fall of 2002, slightly fewer than 10% of students fit into this category; by fall of 2008, slightly over 25% of students did.  Eighty two percent of these students are studying at the undergraduate level.

The report suggests that most institutions that are interested in offering online courses and programs are already doing so.  In fact, the larger institutions dominate the field, in part because their size and established position has enabled them to scale up their online offerings in response to growing student demand:

Academic leaders at all types of institutions report increased demand for face-to-face and online courses, with those at public institutions seeing the greatest impact. …In all cases the proportion reporting an increase in demand for online offerings is larger than for the corresponding face-to-face offerings. Over three-quarters (76 percent) of public institutions report increased demand for existing face-to-face courses and programs, compared to only 32 percent of private nonprofit institutions. Likewise, nearly all public institutions (87 percent) say the economic downturn has increased demand for their existing online courses and programs. A smaller proportion, but still a majority (58 percent), of nonprofits see the economic downturn increasing demand for their existing online courses and programs.

 

Thus, students themselves have shown some preference for the online courses over face to face meetings.

Chief Academic Officers showed increasing belief that learning outcomes for online courses were equal or superior to those of in class courses. Over the period 2003-2008, the percentage of CAO’s expressing that belief rose from 57% to 68% (maybe some of them read the DoE report mentioned above!) However, at the same time, chief academic officers report a small decrease in faculty acceptance of online learning. As the report rightfully notes: Future studies will need to track these results paying particular attention to any possible relationship of perceived faculty acceptance to the rate of growth of online offerings at the institution.

The results, in general, paint a picture of increasing use of online courses as a sustaining, rather than disruptive, technology in Christensen’s terms (see Disruptive technologies: when great universities fail? March 3, 2006). Survey results for for-profit institutions generally were remarkably similar to results in the non-profit sector.  Thus the survey gives no indication that, at this time, online learning is providing the for-profit sector with a disruptive edge.  An issue to be followed!

Comments

[Continuing Education Online]

As technology progresses and the world becomes more dependent upon Internet functions, online learning has gained popularity and functionality. Online learning is extremely flexible, allowing students to study when they want. Since it is a self directed program, it may not be suited for people that aren't highly motivated and organized.

[University Bound]

I am glad to see that people are really grasping the impact of online education in a positive way. Great article!

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[Jordan seakers]

Your ideas about something is so cool and different,many I knew and many I haven’t known,so I am learning them,thanks.and stay them.

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Today, we are now in a modern ways of living. Everything is within reach. Online studies now are in demand. Thus, students themselves have shown some preference for the online courses over face to face meetings.

[Bradley]

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online learning definitely has it's place, and in some studies i've seen remote learners stastically out perform their peers