Snapshot: Students Want Online Learning -- THE Journal

Research

Snapshot: Students Want Online Learning

By David Nagel
03/17/10

High school students seem to be overwhelmingly in favor of online instruction as a component of their educations. The vast majority have taken an online course or expressed interest in taking one, according to new data released this week by Project Tomorrow.

The data, released this week as part of the 2009 Speak Up report, showed that while only 17 percent of high school students (grades 9 through 12) took a fully online or blended course for school in the last 12 months, another 12 percent took a class for self-study. But interest doesn't end there. Thirty-eight percent indicated that, while the had not taken an online class, the were at least "interested" in online learning. And 10 percent indicated that they had at least researched online learning in the last year.

"However," the report said, "while student interest is on the rise, students also tell us that the primary barriers to actually taking an online class are a lack of information about available classes and the logistical steps for taking an online class."

The chart below breaks down some of the data points from the report.

What do these high school students see as the benefits of taking a class online? According to respondents, more than half (51 percent) said it allows them to work at their own pace. Others indicated that online learning allows them to take a class not offered on campus (44 percent), to get extra help (35 percent), to earn college credit (49 percent), to fit classes into their schedule (37 percent), and to get more attention from teachers (19 percent).

Project Tomorrow's 2009 Speak Up report, released this week, is the latest annual survey focused on the national discussion about 21st century education. The survey this year polled more than 369,000 students, teachers, parents, and administrators and involved 5,757 schools from 1,215 districts. (According to Project Tomorrow, since 2003, more than 1.85 million K-12 students, teachers, school leaders, and parents from more than 23,000 schools have participated in the survey.)

Further information about the 2009 Speak Up report, including free online access to data covering high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools, can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the executive producer for 1105 Media's online K-12 and higher education publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com. He can now be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/THEJournalDave (K-12) or http://twitter.com/CampusTechDave (higher education).

Comments

Mon, Nov 14, 2011

@Dr. Goulet You mentioned that this would reduce the number of teaching jobs, but from what I have seen, few professors even do their jobs anyway. In actuality, it doesn't reduce jobs at all. You still need instructors to respond to student questions, review assignments and grade essays. No job is lost, but the possibility of more people earning degrees improve. Providing education becomes less expensive to schools and an education could cost less, thus providing more educated individuals. Some of the educated would fear this, but most would realize that more educated leads to more innovation, businesses and prosperity.

Fri, Jan 14, 2011 Dr. Goulet

Well, the only thing that is preventing the high school students from getting this method of learning done is the government and politics itself. One thing we can be sure of, if online learning is promoted would be less jobs for teachers. Many teachers would then become unemployed thereby creating another major issue for the government. Anyway, if you think logically, online learning is more feasible in this generation and I’m sure it is only a matter of time before it comes into practice!

Wed, Jun 16, 2010 agba lovedey obi nigeria

I WANT A SCHOOL ONLINE THAT I MAY BE CONCEDER AS A LEGAL STUDIES.

Sat, Apr 3, 2010 razma kuwait

hi,sir well after reading this artical im also interested in online learning im currently working as a nursery teacher and i would like to get my bacholar degrees online,well i have faced some fake sites and some even tried to hack my bank account thats wy i didnt have the courage to go for online eduaction,but now im really willing to complete my studies,so if any one will guide me through the right path i will appricate it alot,thanks.

Mon, Mar 22, 2010 Editor

Tom N, we have a piece on the meta-analysis you referenced here. There's a link within that story to access the full report. --David Nagel

Mon, Mar 22, 2010 Tom N http://BestOnlineHighSchools.com

"Where is the evidence that students learn as much in an online class as they do in a face to face situation." In point of fact, the research strongly suggests that students learn *more* in an online course. In a meta-analysis (a study of studies) published in 2009, in any way you would like to measure, online students out-performed traditional students. Interestingly, what out-performed both was a blended course where part was taught online and part was taught in front of the students.

Mon, Mar 22, 2010 Editor

Hi, Eric. Thanks. I hadn't considered that: in-class instruction as a luxury. That's an interesting thought. --David Nagel

Mon, Mar 22, 2010 Litlet

Dear David: It is good to see that you read the comments to your articles! I am a teacher and have said for years that our country will feature online teaching. The cost, the social morays of our society, and the failure of our present system are all indicators that something has to give, and online course works on all these levels. I estimate that in 10 years every student will have the option to use online teaching and in 20 years, it will cost the individual "out of pocket" to not use online teaching. One thing that has not been addressed with this topic is that businesses will augment testing of prospective employees as online education is incorporated.

Thu, Mar 18, 2010 Muvaffak Gozaydin Turkey

Thanks JBCan you write to me directly so that I can learn your experience of 16 years with online math. I am dedicated to online. I am from Turkey but I try to convince my American friends that online is good. Good online is 10 times better than bad f2f . Please write to me mgozaydin@hotmail.com from turkey

Thu, Mar 18, 2010 JB

I have been teaching an on-line calculus class for 16 years and my students consistently perform well above the national average on the AP exam. They are proof that students can learn via a distance and that rigor can be part of that course. Tests are monitored and taken at a school. This is not to say that there is never any cheating, but I catch it and deal with it. Don't let fear of dishonesty taint your opinions of on-line courses. But, evaluate courses - some of them are just fluff and easy A's. Not mine though.

Wed, Mar 17, 2010 Editor

To the anonymous poster, isn't that the same perception that has led some to mistrust the grading of classroom teachers and require statewide high-stakes testing to determine the adequacy of instruction ... and, by the way, soon national high-stakes testing as well because the federal government doesn't trust the state tests? At some point, do we trust the people who have trained for this and who've dedicated their lives to education? --David Nagel

Wed, Mar 17, 2010

Students want A's but we do not give them A's unless they earn them. Where is the evidence that students learn as much in an online class as they do in a face to face situation. It has been my experience that the amount of cheating in an online class negates the convenience of the online class.

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