spfister - EDIT 5370 - MODULE 5 - Relating Articles to Research and Practice Influence

Stephen Pfister

EDIT-5370

Module 5 - Relating Articles to Research and Practice Influence

February 24, 2019

I read three articles that talked about challenges with online schools, the future of online learning and trends in the field. Studies show that learning type does not affect student success, according to “How Online Learning Compares to the Traditional Classroom”. The influence this has on practice is that it allows the focus to be more about the learning material, rather than where the student is actually learning it.

According to “Predicted education trends reflect a changing nation”, the author states that data shows there are a slowing and dropping of enrollment in traditional schools. This type of shift influences the way we thinking of an approach learning, and could even suggest that as technology grows, we may see more preferences with online learning.

In, “Outdated education metric is casting a cloud on a higher ed bright spot: Western Governors University”, the author writes about online universities and a big challenge that they will have to overcome. This challenge has to do with correspondence school students and how they can get financial aid. Many online colleges are being considered correspondence schools and therefore, they have to play by different rules. For instance, there are different standards and regulations regarding financial aid. These are rules come from decades-old research that suggested these type of schools would see students who were more likely to default on their student loans. Modern online schools are completely different from the schools referenced in this old research, and therefore should be considered for financial aid.

Works Cited

• Chen, Clement, PhD, CPA, Jones, Keith T., PhD, CPA & Moreland, Keith, PhD, CPA (2017, October). How Online Learning Compares to the Traditional Classroom: Measuring Accounting Course Outcomes. General Format. The CPA Journal. Retrieved from https://www.cpajournal.com/2017/10/09/online-learning-compares-traditional-classroom/
• The authors of this article surveyed students from online and traditional classrooms, finding that the course delivery was not as important as is the student’s ability to work in an intentional and motivated manner. In researching this topic, 238 students responded to a survey measuring personal characteristics of learning, as well as opinions on the learning type. The statistics showed that there was a meaningful effect on perceived learning with self-regulation and cognitive effort, but no effect from the delivery method. Results were similar for course satisfaction. The studies indicated that students can have a more positive course experience when they are able to regulate their commitment and effort.
• Materazzo, Miranda (2017, October 10). Predicted education trends reflect a changing nation. General Format. Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved from http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/predicted-education-trends-reflect-a-changing-nation-20171010
• This article discusses trends based on a National Center for Education Statistics study, including diversity and growth. While actual enrollment growth has slowed, schools will continue to become more diverse. Part of the slowed enrollment growth comes from lowering birth rates in the United States. In regard to colleges, data reflects that the full-time student population is expected to drop significantly more than part-time, in part due to increased tuition costs. 
• Madzelan, Dan & Hartle, Terry W. (2017, September 27). Outdated education metric is casting a cloud on a higher ed bright spot: Western Governors University. General Format. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/09/27/outdated-education-metric-is-casting-a-cloud-on-a-higher-ed-bright-spot-western-governors-university/?utm_term=.daa2a823d215
• This article discusses the recommendation of the Department of Education’s inspector general that the Education Department moves to reclaim $713 million in federal student financial aid from Western Governor’s University for, what the author calls an obsolete federal standard. The government put standards in place to take away financial aid funding from schools with high default rates. One of the major standards that affect online education is an old one placed on correspondence schools, as they had a high default rate. This old rule ended up affecting Western Governor’s, even though the school has a high approval rate from students. The author tells us that the school uses newer and more modern techniques, and therefore it shouldn’t be measured by old standards.