Learning Onl What Research Tells Us about Whether, when and how by Barbara Means

At a time when more and more of what people learn both in formal courses and in everyday life is mediated by technology, Learning Onl provides a much-needed guide to different forms and applications of onl learning. This book describes how onl learning is being used in both K-12 and higher education settings as well as in learning outside of school. Particular onl learning technologies, such as MOOCs (massive open onl courses), multi-player games, learning analytics, and adaptive onl practice environments, are described in terms of design principles, implementation, and contexts of use.

Learning Onl synthesizes research findings on the effectiveness of different types of onl learning, but a major message of the book is that student outcomes arise from the joint influence of implementation, context, and learner characteristics interacting with technology--not from technology alone. The book describes available research about how best to implement different forms of onl learning for specific kinds of students, subject areas, and contexts.

Building on available evidence regarding practices that make onl and blended learning more effective in different contexts, Learning Onl draws implications for institutional and state policies that would promote judicious uses of onl learning and effective implementation models. This in-depth research work concludes with a call for an onl learning implementation research agenda, combining education institutions and research partners in a collaborative effort to generate and share evidence on effective practices.