Some advocates argue that online learning can lead to
better outcomes for students, lower costs for institutions, and more access to
minorities. A new report concludes all are possible, if colleges and universities do it the right way.
Making Digital Learning Work,
a study of digital-learning initiatives at three four-year institutions and
three community colleges, found a generally higher retention rate for online
students and improved outcomes for Pell-eligible and minority students. It also
noted enrollment increases as a result of digital-learning initiatives.
At the same time, the report concluded that online
courses do cost less to produce because higher student-to-teacher ratios and
less need for classroom space offset the financial investments in course
quality. It also suggested that some of the key practices in launching a digital-learning
effort include a strategy to meet the needs of different students, support for
remote accessibility, and treating faculty members as partners in the process.
“It
is clearly important for colleges and universities to adopt a more
entrepreneurial approach to digital learning, making innovation a part of their
institutional culture and embracing evidence-driven decision-making,” the authors
of the report wrote.