Virtual education is poorer than the real thing

In K-12 programs, students coming from on-line-only classes benchmark more poorly than do their live-classroom counterparts, according to one study which assessed on of the prominent commercial programs available.

Let’s review: the assurances that high-tech, on-line or computer-based learning programs give superior outcomes all seem to come from people whose business is selling high-tech, on-line or computer based learning programs. Asking if this education’s way of the future is kind of like asking a barber if you need a haircut. We should not be surprised at the answer – but we should assess carefully and independently how well new programs work before we invest heavily.