Administrators and Faculty Split on Online Learning’s Value

By Kylie Lacey. 7 percent of academic leaders surveyed believe online education results in the same or superior learning outcomes as in face-to-face classes. The number of students taking at least one course online is on the rise; the 2012 Survey of Online Learning conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group and released this year indicated that number surpassed 6.7 million for the fall 2011 semester.
That said, there is a divergence between higher ed administrators and faculty on the value of online learning. Seventy-seven percent of academic leaders surveyed believe online education results in the same or superior learning outcomes as in face-to-face classes.
However, only 30.2 percent of chief academic officers think their faculty accept online learning as valuable and legitimate. This figure has decreased from the recorded statistic in 2004. With 69.1 percent of chief academic leaders saying online education is a key part of their long-term strategy, faculty must learn to embrace it. Read more...