Surveys Show Americans See Quality of Online Education

According to a new Gallup survey of Americans aged 18 and older, a majority of the 1,000 adults responding believe online instruction is “at least as good” as classroom-based courses in terms of value, offering a format in which most students can succeed, and tailored instruction.

When asked to rate online vs. face-to-face courses based on the courses’ reach and quality, more Americans rated online courses as better than traditional courses in five categories. While many questioned the rigor of testing and grading, and whether employers viewed online degrees as positively as those received from traditional, brick-and-mortar institutions, most of the respondents rated online courses as the same or better on all criteria measured but the latter.

While some credibility challenges clearly remain for distance education as a whole, previous misunderstandings about online instruction are diminishing as more graduates are surpassing employer expectations in the field. And with most brick-and-mortar institutions transitioning their education models to harness the benefits of blended or predominately online course delivery—there’s a seismic shift underway from a society that once questioned online learning to one that demands it. Online learning platforms can offer unique advantages to educators, including early data to identify at-risk students and scalable delivery of personalized content to students to enhance learning outcomes. I believe that such third-party validation from the Gallup survey, reinforced by employer sentiments, makes an increasingly strong case that distance learning and academic quality aren’t mutually exclusive.

Subjects of Interest

EdTech

Higher Education

Independent Schools

K-12

Student Persistence

Workforce