During a live Chronicle chat today, Janna Anderson, director of Internet projects at Elon University, said a number of information-technology experts have grown frustrated with the development, or lack thereof, of online learning. Ms. Anderson was in charge of the Imagining the Internet project, led by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, which asked computer scientists to predict how the ‘Net will change over the next decade.
In the 2004 Future of the Internet survey, Ms. Anderson says, experts were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with a simple statement: "Learning in the future will be increasingly set by student choices, most students will spend at least part of their ‘school days’ in virtual classes, grouped online with others who share their interests, mastery, and skills.
"While a majority agreed, there was a vocal and highly qualified minority who expressed frustration with the slow movement in education so far, saying little progress will be made in the next decade or so. One policy analyst for the Center for Democracy and Technology wrote: ‘I’ve spent enough time worrying about distance education to despair of this goal being met. Schools are awfully hidebound institutions. So, although I’d like to think this prediction will come true, I’m thinking the time scale is much longer — perhaps 50 years rather than 10.’"
The full transcript of the discussion is now available. Join us each Thursday at noon, U.S. Eastern time, for a live discussion with a newsmaker from the academic world.
Developing online and blended learning programs requires research and collaboration. Learn how top technology companies are partnering with campuses across the country to advance online learning as it becomes an increasingly important aspect of higher education.