Virtual School MOOC – Research into the Design of K-12 Online Learning (21-23 September 2012)

The fourth topic in Introduction to K-12 Online Learning Research is “Research into the Design of K-12 Online Learning.”

Like many aspects of K-12 online learning, there has been little systematic research into what constitutes the design of K-12 online learning.  The studies that exist are methodologically limited, often to very specific contexts.  As with much of what we have, and will continue to examine, the practice of how K-12 online learning is designed is far outpacing the availability of useful research. At the same time, corporations and their representative organizations have produced numerous series of best practices and national standards, almost all without any research validation, that are quickly becoming adopted industry-wide.  Spend the next few days of the MOOC examining this dismay state of affairs.