Distance and Persistence

From LiteracyTentWiki


Contents

The Research Question

The broad research question is: under what conditions, with what kinds of students, and to what extent does the addition of distance education (including supported distance learning) program options improve student persistence?

Distance Learning Glossary

Go to DistanceLearningGlossary

Research

For a review of research in this area, visit the ResearchOnTech page. A lot of the research cited pertains to distance learning in adult education.

There is beginning to be research on distance learning for Adult Literacy Education, and on technology in the classroom, which includes using websites, video, and other tools of distance learning, but I haven't seen a focus on the relationship between distance learning and persistence in a particular adult education program.

Can you contribute resources/ideas/considerations/experience? Please add to this page.

Discussion

Go to DistanceAndPersistenceDiscussion to see what people have been posting on this topic.

Links

  • Project IDEAL
Project Ideal is doing research on distance learning in adult education, based on the implementation of distance learning in 17 states. http://www.projectideal.org Their research topics include implementation, accountability, learner characteristics, teaching, and teacher professional development.
  • California Distance Learning Project
The California Distance Learning Project has been working on these questions for a number of years as well. Their website, http://www.cdlponline.org, is primarily for learners, but there is a section for adult educators as well.
  • The Pennsylvania Distance Learning Project Website
http://www.padistancelearning.org
Tech21 was a three-year, national technology lab research and demonstration project which ended in March, 2005. Some of the research was on distance learning, for example:
  • The Massachusetts ABE Distance Learning Project
The MA ABE Distance Learning Project has been serving adults with supported/blended learning since 1999. The project website has resources for both learners and practitioners.
http://www.anywhereanytimeabe.org

If you have other adult education distance learning websites that should be listed here, please add them.


Supported by the New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning