Title of Study:  A Summary of Research on the Effectiveness of K-12 Online Learning

Author(s): Susan Patrick and Allison Powell

Summary:
This report summarizes the results of 20 research studies on the effectiveness of online learning, including two meta-analyses.  Studies chosen addressed student achievement, teacher effectiveness, student socialization and student reports of the learning experience.

Sponsoring entity(s): International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL)

Date conducted: 2009

Location of the study: This study can be accessed through the iNACOL website.

Setting(s) addressed:

• Online learning

Targeted population(s):

• K-12

Primary sources of evidence used in the study or report:

• Published research studies

Primary Technology Application(s) Addressed:

• Online learning

Major education topic(s) addressed:

• All academic subjects

Major findings/conclusions:

• Students taking online courses perform as well or better than students in traditional face-to-face instruction
• Blended online and face-to-face instruction improves performance over either approach alone
• Online learners often spend more time on task than in face-to-face instruction, and these students benefited more than other students

Practical implications of the findings:

• State-run virtual schools can offer online instruction at a lower per-student cost because there is no need for student transportation and school physical facilities
• One study found that teaching online improves teachers’ practice in both online and face-to-face settings
• Teachers reported that their interactions with students and parents were more focused on teaching and learning when teaching in the online setting
• One study found that online courses increased on-time graduation rates and college/workforce readiness
• Students in full-time online schools were at least as well socialized as those in traditional schools

Reviewer Comments:
This review covers only selected studies from the last ten years, without meta-analysis.  However the studies selected include an exhaustive meta-analysis of early research.