Why Students Value Online Learning: Perceived Strengths and Weaknesses at a School for Gifted Youth

• In Event: Online Learning Environments

Abstract

Though much research has been done on how online instruction compares to traditional methods, less work has examined the question of how students evaluate online study. This paper describes one online secondary school’s approach, and presents data from a student survey (n=159) addressing instructional quality and perceived learning outcomes, at three enrollment levels (single course, part-time and full-time). Results indicate that online study affords academic flexibility and time efficiency, but also requires special attention to logistics made difficult by physical distance. One unexpected finding was that student complaints about the online school did not differ by enrollment level, indicating that problems are not aggravated by increasing time spent online. Implications for other online institutions and researchers are discussed.

Authors

• Lindsay Oishi, Pearson

• Janet S. Keating, Stanford University

• Tracy Michele Steele, Stanford University