New Survey Highlights Best Practices For Online Learning Programs

Progress monitoring tools, teacher availability and training, and challenging curriculum are critical elements of a successful distance learning program, according to a new survey, Best Practices for Implementing Online Learning in K-12 Districts, released this week by K12, a provider of online education programs for K-12 students.

More than 220 superintendents, curriculum directors, principals, and special education directors participated in the survey, which was conducted by MDR's EdNet Insight. All respondents have experience implementing online programs, including full-time online, online classes, and credit recovery.

Survey participants identified four key factors as "extremely important" in building a successful K-12 online education program:

  • Reporting and progress monitoring tools that enable teachers to assess student comprehension and identify those that need additional help;
  • Teacher who are readily available to assist struggling students;
  • Educators specially trained to teach in an online environment;
  • Rigorous curriculum, designed to accommodate different learning styles, that keeps students focused and engaged.

The survey report also provides insight on best implementation practices by program type, number of schools developing curricula in-house versus those collaborating with partners, and how districts view the costs of online learning in comparison to traditional instruction.

Users may register to receive a copy of the survey report at K12's Web site.

About the Author

Kanoe Namahoe is online editor for 1105 Media's Education Group. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Two figures, one male and one female, stand beside a transparent digital interface displaying AI symbols like neural networks, code, and a shield, against a clean blue gradient background.

    Microsoft-IDC Report Makes Business Case for Responsible AI

    A report commissioned by Microsoft and published last month by research firm IDC notes that 91% of organizations use AI tech and expect more than a 24% improvement in customer experience, business resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency due to AI in 2024.

  • teacher

    6 Policy Recommendations for Adopting AI in the Classroom

    The Southern Regional Education Board's Commission on AI in Education has published six recommendations on adopting artificial intelligence in schools, colleges, and universities. The guidance mark's the commission's first release since it was established last February, with more recommendations planned in the coming year.

  • a professional worker in business casual attire interacting with a large screen displaying a generative AI interface in a modern office

    Study Finds Generative AI Could Inhibit Critical Thinking

    A new study on how knowledge workers engage in critical thinking found that workers with higher confidence in generative AI technology tend to employ less critical thinking to AI-generated outputs than workers with higher confidence in personal skills.

  • digital network with glowing blue and red lines, featuring multiple red arrows shifting in different directions

    Report: As Ransomware Payoffs Decline, Attackers Change Tactics

    Actors are changing tactics as they collect less money from ransomware payoffs, according to a new report from Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm.