If distance learning is well-conceived and carried out, there are no differences in learning based on studies comparing live training to internet-based training.
This is the major finding of a review published in JAMA in Sept. 2008 titled, Internet Learning in the Health Professions: A Meta-analysis. This paper was written by the research group of Cook, Levinson, Garside, Dupras, Erwin, and Montori, who have been writing a lot of very interesting papers on learning from technology in the health sciences.
They looked at 201 studies, some comparing internet-based learning with a no intervention group and comparing internet-based learning with a face-to-face alternative. They looked at three different outcomes: knowledge, skills, and behavior/ effects on patients.
What did they find? That internet-based training was no different than live training. Their findings are similar to publications from other fields showing that at worst, there is no difference between learning online and face-to-face learning.
The conclusion:
It's a waste of time to continue doing studies comparing internet learning with face-to-face learning, it's time to start looking at exactly what kinds of activities and instructional methods lead to better learning.
In future posts, I'll look at some of the things that you can do to improve learning and outcomes for your online learners.
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