Benefits of Online Learning: Flexibility and Customization

There are a great many benefits of using a form of online learning in the elementary classroom.  I have mentioned before that I believe most of our technology learning time is not being used effectively.  Most teachers use the one hour that they have in the computer lab to have students complete a worksheet using a website.  True blended and online learning involves much more and our students can reap the benefits.  In an article for The Heritage Foundation, author Dan Lips states, “In 2009, the U.S. Department of Education published a meta-analysis of evidence-based studies of K-12 and postsecondary online learning programs.  The study reported that ‘students who took all or part of their class online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through traditional face-to-face instruction.’”

One of the main benefits of online learning is flexibility.  For students, online learning can allow for self-pacing and repetition.  For example, if a student is struggling with a particularly hard math problem in a traditional setting, they can ask the teacher for help.  However, what if that student needs more help?  Sure in the traditional classroom teachers use things like small group teaching and re-teaching to help students overcome misconceptions.  But what if the student needs even more attention but the teacher has moved on to the next lesson?  In online learning, a student that struggles with the material can work at their own pace until their understanding kicks in.  If a teacher uploads a video of him or herself working through that tough math problem, the student can watch it as many times as needed.

Along those same lines, online learning can be extremely customized for different types of learners.  That student that struggled with the math problem may be a visual learner and the video of his teacher working out the solution may have really helped.  If there is a student that learns best when performing the math problems themselves, the teacher can add supplemental resources to the lessons such as interactive websites where students can practice the material.  The possibilities for customization are endless. 

Up next, more benefits of online learning…

References:

Lips, D. (2010, January 12). How Online Learning Is Revolutionizing K-12 Education and Benefiting Students. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved September 25, 2014, from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/01/how-online-learning-is-revolutionizing-k12-education-and-benefiting-students