Online learning keeps evolving by Elizabeth Tice

Photo: Elizabeth Tice

Elizabeth Tice writes, "Driven by student demand, technology, a troubled economy and roiling demographic changes, the continued growth of online and distance learning has become a force that is not only forever changing how education is delivered but will also drive economic change by preparing today’s workers for the technology-based jobs of tomorrow."

The rapid adoption and expansion of online education is closely tied to the growth of technology, the Internet and other new ways of delivering knowledge to more students beyond the previous boundaries of place, time and expense. Pioneers in online education were the early adopters of new digital technology. They created curriculum and delivery methods to meet the needs of working adults and other students who wanted to learn but needed access to education that was available on more flexible schedules.

The 2011 Sloan Consortium study from Babson Survey Research Group, “Going the Distance: Online Education in the United States 2011,” reported that higher education enrollment grew by 0.6 percent in 2010.

In contrast, online college classes grew by 10.1 percent. More than 6.1 million students were enrolled in at least one web-based class in the fall 2010 semester, with online enrollment now representing 31.3 of total enrollment. From 2002 to 2010, online learning has grown at a compounded annual rate of 18.3 percent, versus just over 2 percent for overall higher education.

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Source: SignOnSanDiego.com