Understanding the Implications of Online Learning

Understanding the Implications of Online Learning

for Educational Productivity

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Educational Technology

Prepared by:

Marianne Bakia

Linda Shear

Yukie Toyama

Austin Lasseter

Center for Technology in Learning

SRI International

January 2012

This report was prepared for the U.S. Department of Education under Contract number ED01-CO-0040 Task 0010 with SRI International. The views expressed herein do not

necessarily represent the positions or policies of the Department of Education. No official

endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education is intended or should be inferred.

U.S. Department of Education

Arne Duncan

Secretary

Office of Educational Technology

Karen Cator

Director

January 2012

This report is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce this report in whole or in part

is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the suggested citation

is: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, Understanding the

Implications of Online Learning for Educational Productivity, Washington, D.C., 2012.

This report is available on the Department¡¯s Web site at

On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille, large print, or computer

diskette. For more information, please contact the Department¡¯s Alternate Format Center at (202)

260-0852 or (202) 260-0818.

Technical Contact:

Bernadette Adams

Senior Policy Analyst

Office of Educational Technology

bernadette.adams@

Contents

Exhibits ................................................................................................................................ ii

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. v

Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 1

Overview of Online Learning for Secondary Education .................................................... 1

Purpose of this Report ..................................................................................................... 3

Introduction to the Measurement of Educational Productivity ............................................... 5

Estimating Program Costs ............................................................................................... 8

Documenting Context and Implementation .................................................................... 10

Measuring Program Outcomes ...................................................................................... 10

Cost-Effectiveness Research Requirements .................................................................. 12

The Productivity Potential of Online Learning .................................................................... 15

Opportunities to Reduce Educational Costs Through Online Learning ........................... 25

Implications ....................................................................................................................... 33

The Need for Transformation ......................................................................................... 34

Suggestions for Future Research .................................................................................. 35

Appendix A: Additional Resources ................................................................................... A-1

General Productivity in Education ................................................................................ A-2

Productivity and Educational Technology..................................................................... A-3

Key Resources on Types and Prevalence of Online Learning.................................... A-13

Quality Standards for Online Learning Programs ....................................................... A-15

References .................................................................................................................... A-17

i

Exhibits

Exhibit 1: Components of Educational Productivity Analyses ............................................... 7

Exhibit 2: Comparison of Per-Pupil Spending .................................................................... 26

ii

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