Recent News

Digital Learning Now! Releases White Paper on Myths, Reality & Promise of Online Learning

WASHINGTON ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­– Digital Learning Now! (DLN), a national campaign under the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), today released the eighth white paper in the DLN Smart Series. “Online Learning: Myths, Reality & Promise” explores the current trends, myths and realities of online learning. From state legislatures to classrooms across the country, a revolution of new learning models is underway, empowered in large part by online learning.

In 2012, state legislatures considered more than 700 digital learning bills, many of which dealt with online learning. More than 150 were signed into law.

“DLN’s 2012 Digital Learning Report Card reveals significant activity in legislation that supports high-quality access to online learning,” said John Bailey, executive director of DLN. “States are moving away from a one-size-fits-all education to a more personalized approach that uses technology and online learning to teach each student at different speeds and in more flexible, personalized ways.”

Co-authored by Bailey, Susan Patrick, president and CEO of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), Carri Schneider, director of policy and research at Getting Smart, and Tom Vander Ark, CEO at Getting Smart, the paper addresses misconceptions about what online learning means for students, teachers and the education system as a whole.

“From its advent, online learning has grown because of its potential to increase student access to innovative teachers personalizing learning and individualizing instruction, without the restrictive barriers of place and time,” said Patrick. “Confronting the myths that persist around what online learning is – and isn’t – is key. This paper aims to shed light on the truth versus perception, explores pros and cons, and shifts the focus to the ways educational innovators are delivering on the promise of providing high-quality online learning opportunities that can level the playing field for students around the world, enabling individualized instruction that, until now, has not been possible at scale.”

Online learning can expand options for teachers and students, grow enrollment for school districts, and power new approaches to instruction such as blended learning. It shares many critical success factors with traditional education, but there are differences that require a solid plan and well-developed strategy. The paper’s authors offer recommendations centered on the state policy priorities necessary to support online learning.

Vander Ark added, “Trends like bottom-up adoption, district implementation, course access policies, blended learning, competency-based learning, and college-credit opportunities reveal the potential of online learning to empower teachers with new tools to engage students.”

Additional topics covered in this paper include the range of students served by online learning, as well as the role of teachers and technology.

“The students and teachers we profiled in the paper reveal we are just beginning to see the potential of online learning to dramatically improve opportunities for teachers and students,” added Schneider.

In addition to the paper, the authors have partnered to present a free iNACOL Special Edition Webinar on Friday, July 12 at 2 p.m. EST/ 11 a.m. PST. Additionally, they have released an infographic that outlines the 10 steps that need to be taken to implement a successful online program, the eight key issues that need to be addressed, and the four areas on which to place focus for a successful implementation. A second infographic that will cover additional topics from the paper is forthcoming.

Released in partnership with Getting Smart, the DLN Smart Series is a collection of interactive white papers aimed at equipping policymakers and education leaders with the necessary tools for transforming education for the digital age. Each paper offers specific guidance regarding the adoption of Common Core State Standards and the shift to personalized digital learning. The first seven papers in the series are also available for download:

  1. Funding the Shift to Digital Learning: Three Strategies for Funding Sustainable High-Access Environments
  2. Data Backpacks: Portable Records & Learner Profiles
  3. Getting Ready for Online Assessments
  4. The Shift From Cohorts to Competency
  5. Blended Learning Implementation Guide
  6. Funding Students, Options, and Achievement
  7. Improving Conditions & Careers