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implementation of online learning was effective in a specific context or for a specific
subgroup of students should not be extrapolated to suggest that all forms of online learning
are effective for everyone.
The following discussion and examples illustrate five ways that online learning could
increase educational productivity by improving learning opportunities:
1) Broadening access to resources and experiences;
2) Engaging students in active learning;
3) Individualizing and differentiating instruction; 10
4) Personalizing learning; and
5) Maximizing teacher and student time.
Consistent with the lack of available rigorous research on educational productivity, the
descriptions of potential productivity improvements of online learning that follow the
examples below are based on commonly espoused visions for online learning for which
more rigorous research is warranted.
1. Broadening Access to Resources and Experiences
Online learning can broaden student access to courses taught by qualified teachers in schools
that could otherwise not afford to provide these courses because of relatively small student
demand locally or the costs associated with recruiting teachers with the necessary skills and
credentials. In particular, rural schools and districts sometimes have difficulty justifying the
expense of adding teachers who would serve relatively few students. Online learning
environments might increase productivity by broadening access to certified teachers without
incurring the cost of hiring highly qualified teachers at each site. Generally speaking, this
could result in more educational opportunities being made available to a larger pool of
students.
10 This report adopts the definitions of individualized, differentiated and personalized that were used in the National
Education Technology Plan (U.S. Department of Education 2010a). Individualized instruction adjusts the pace of learning
to meet the needs of individual students. Differentiated instruction draws from a variety of instructional approaches to meet
the student’s needs. Personalized learning provides content that is tailored to individual student interests (U.S. Department
of Education 2010a).
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