August 31st, 2009 by Josh Catone

According to the New York Times Bits blog, a recent study funded by the US Department of Education (PDF) found that on the whole, online learning environments actually led to higher tested performance than face-to-face learning environments. “On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction,” concluded the report’s authors in their key findings.

The report looked at just under one hundred studies that compared the performance of students in online learning environments (or courses with an online study component) to those who were given strictly face-to-face instruction for the same courses. What they found was that students who completed all or some of their coursework online tested on average in the 59th percentile, compared to the 50th percentile for those who received only classroom instruction, and that the results are statistically significant.

Online Education on the Horizon

While the study certainly provides a vote of confidence for online learning, it’s important to note that it doesn’t necessarily demonstrate that online learning is more effective as a medium than classroom learning. “In many of the studies showing an advantage for online learning, the online and classroom conditions differed in terms of time spent, curriculum and pedagogy. It was the combination of elements in the treatment conditions (which was likely to have included additional learning time and materials as well as additional opportunities for collaboration) that produced the observed learning advantages,” writes the authors of the report (emphasis theirs). “At the same time, one should note that online learning is much more conducive to the expansion of learning time than is face-to-face instruction.”

In other words: all things are not equal. Students spending three hours per day in an online environment under the guidance of a great professor are likely, and not surprisingly, going to be better prepared than those spending an hour per week in a classroom with a mediocre one. And because the study’s results were correlational and not causal, it is impossible to say for certain whether it was actually the online learning environment that caused better tested performance. We can conclude that those in online learning environments tested better, but not necessarily why.

Further, the meta-study did not look at enough K-12 research to draw any conclusions — simply because it doesn’t exist. Researchers warned that “various online learning implementation practices may have differing effectiveness for K–12 learners than they do for older students,” which seems plausible. A major part of the job of a good educator is to equip students with the necessary mental tools to be able to continue learning on their own. Those skills are likely to be less developed in younger students, making face-to-face teacher intervention more necessary.

So while the classroom is ultimately here to stay, we can probably safely assume that there will be more use of online learning tools in the future. In that case, what might online education look like?

The Framework for Taking School Online

As part of their research, SRI International, which conducted the study for the DoE, constructed a conceptual framework of the different types of online education. They broke learning down into three types: expository (learners receive information via digital means), active (learners build knowledge by manipulating online tools), interactive (learners build knowledge through collaborative interaction).


Until recently, online learning has mainly been of the expository sort, essentially a traditional lecture format adapted for the web. But newer, social and multimedia technologies are allowing online tools to evolve to offer more active and interactive lessons. No longer is online learning just reading a module and answering questions — it can now include synchronous or asynchronous discussions and peer-to-peer learning exercises. As a result, online learning is becoming a more useful tool as both a replacement for and enhancement to traditional face-to-face learning.

The Teacher of the Future

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post called In the Future, the Cost of Education Will Be Zero. In it, I argued that online learning technologies and open source materials have the potential to drive the cost of a quality education down very close to free and provide access to learning opportunities for people who otherwise couldn’t afford it. The post stimulated a lot of great discussion and debate.
Some people thought it was great that web technologies and open source and Creative Commons licensing concepts were enabling the playing field to become more level. Others accused me of advocating the closure of all schools (not quite what I was getting at), or that I was painting teachers as an unnecessary aspect of the learning process (for the record, my brother and my fiancé are high school teachers, my sister-in-law runs summer and after school education programs, and both my parents have worked in the public schools — I don’t want any of them to lose their jobs).

But that does raise a good question: what happens to teachers if more education moves online?

Rest of the story here

This is very true. In fact, the university I work for has started preparing the facilities needed in this kind of teaching. Labs are almost finished and this will be launched by June, first term next year.

This trend is new and apparently practical especially in terms of budget; however, as this is still pioneering here, the possible effects are still to be seen. ( Cognitive wise, this is sensible but I'm worried on the psychological and affective aspects of learning as how would this affect the learners not to themeselves but in social settings.)

I have no idea what other schools and universities are doing here in Thailand, I just made sure I had shared the info with my colleagues as this is likely to happen. So teachers, be prepared.

This is the trend that they are talking about... The trend that would worsen the values education system. Just this morning, I scolded my Grade 11 students for the first time. I used to talk to them in a very nice manner considering that they would pay attention on what I am talking about. These students are so smart when it comes to the subject matter (Mathematics) but I have seen how their values system have deteriorated over time. I thought, I was teaching Grade 2 last year and their behavior is much better compared to these Grade 11 students. I realized that it is the product of the education system wherein cognitive development is given more priority than the students' emotional growth. Until now, these people who call themselves "experts" do not realize where schooling have gone in the recent years.

TEST? Are we studying for the test?

Who created computer virus? Who created those destructive weapons? What made an intelligent doctor gave wrong medication to his patient in exchange of bogus money? Those people are all smart yet they don't know how to use their being smart in way that they would make this place a better place to live. Still, I would stand firm to my belief that this online education program would do nothing for the moral development of our children. Instead of investing on these projects, why not invest for good teachers who could holistically develop our children? The latter, I believe, is more sensible if we are after of producing caring global citizens.

I agree with you Tarsier; however, we are aware ourselves too that Education nowadays is a BUSINESS as well and we aren't in control if the administrators will take the new option for budget purposes.


I've always believed that TEACHING is the safest job as there's no much threat of bankruptcy and downsizing. People do study and they need teachers, that is the process and that never changes. Moreover, there's no other job when one can enjoy the best long holidays on semester breaks. So I love it!

However, this ONLINE Education seems starting to change the system. It has a point as students will be more confident in expressing themselves and practicing drills. If they have questions in mind, oh well, they can just google it, and even get better and more accurate answers. As per report, the result was of better compared to a MEDIOCRE teacher. I have no fear at all if I am aware of my capabilities and I know that I am doing excellent at work; BUT, I have no control for schools, institutions or universities who would rather spend on Technology rather than hiring "human " teachers nowadays.


To the Filipino Teachers who are in the field of Conversation English, prepare yourselves ahead as if your school will opt to this method then there'll be no need for us in here. This is not being negative, just letting us know the possibilities of our future here and we may take action plans as early as now in case the worst thing would happen. These are just what are in my head.

Finally, would be nice to hear more thoughts on this, teachers, speak up!

Thanks for the information MC especially that most of us here in Thailand are Teachers. It's good to be prepared every now and then but as of this time, let's do whatever we can for the good of the school and the students... Make a reason for the school to keep you as their Foreign Teacher.

hinde mangyayari yan dahil hinde sapat ang teknolohiya para palitan ang mga guro. marami pa rin ang walang kompyuter sa mga iba't ibang bansa. ang nakakatakot ay kung hinde gaanong ka informed ang guro at ang mag estudyante pa ang may kaalaman sa mga bagay bagay.

The only thing that's constant in this world, they say, is change itself.

Our world is evolving, new technologies are created everyday by the thousands, human teachers being replaced by computers? Possible, I think. But it may take years.

Who knows what is in store in the field of education in the future.

Right now, the Filipino teacher is not only threatened by technology, but by an increasing demand for "farang" teachers because competition among schools is rising in a much more rapid pace than we can imagine.

How do we brace ourselves for the inevitable?

WE MUST EVOLVE with the times.

That's why we can't just be calm and assure ourselves we will always have jobs if we remain just the way we are when we first came into a workplace. We have to admit, the Filipino teacher in Thailand is NOT indispensable. It's not a criticism, just a mere statement of fact.

What to do? You can do several things: study more and become better qualified. Study another language or acquire a new skill (photography, painting, dance, music, martial arts, etc.). Learn another language. If you're in a school that has a big number of Inidian, or Japanese, or Korean, or Thai students, learn the language! Why wouldn't your school keep someone who would come in handy for translation during Parent-Teacher Conferences?! Volunteer for a job, or better yet, create one for yourself: Your school doesn't have a website? Instead of griping about the lack of initiative on the part of your administrators, volunteer to make and maintain the school's website. And do it for free in the beginning. You need to prove your worth first before you can even think about asking to get paid.

Schools are the same everywhere you go: there are things you wish are not there, but they exist. There are people you wish do not work there with you, but they do. But as long as you do your work with a passion because you understand the value of it, you will always be in a better place. Cuz if nobody appreciates who and what you are in your present job, because you gave it all you've got, the next one will eventually be an improvement of the first.

A teacher, a good one, can never be replaced by any machine. Many times in our experiences, we come accross people who do not appreciate the value of what we do. But to those few souls you have helped believe in their young selves, those you helped succeed in a test, and those you simply loved because there is a beutiful human being deep within, your face is forverer etched in their hearts.

So today and everyday, erase the fear in what is to come, and simply be the person you chose to be : a TEACHER. The universe will just take care of itself, the way it always did since the beginning of time.

Quite a lot to read in here. will do the reading later.

The future of teaching faces a lot of challenges. Although technology has improved some aspects of teaching, it also poses an adverse impact on teaching. Nowadays, some schools have started offering online studies to students. Also, virtual teaching or learning is starting to develop as one way for students to acquire knowledge. Are we teachers of the 21st century up to the challenge?

Loads of things in here...he he he

I just like to add something though. We must be aware of our essence. We must be watchful.

Me? I have started to superimpose myself. If I am requested for a special class, I lay my rules and speak about them in a soft but very professional manner. I have started to take away pity for those who cannot afford my hourly rate. Square stance! I believe it is about time to let others know that we are indeed at par with what they expect from the much-praised-and-sought natives.

What I am just saying here, guys, is STOP BEING COMPASSIONATE when you are well endowed of the ability and know-how in your career. If you have established yourself, make it as an advantage to propagate the fact that we, Philippine teachers, exist big time!

This can be a good way to suppress the reality which is happening lately. We are left with no choice but think of ways on how we can maintain the status of being wanted and needed, specially when we have already established ourselves.

Go, Pinoy teachers, go!