experts' corner

Educational researchers are working hard to answer some of the most challenging questions in online learning. But you don't have time to sift through the 2.5+ million Google-scholar hits for "online learning", so we're reading those articles and working them into our Design Decision Wizard for you. Some are just too good not to pass on, however. Here are summaries and links our favorite research articles.

Research on online students...

Who are they? What do they need and want? What helps them succeed?

• learner motivation, affect, computer and internet skills, etc.

Research on online courses...

What methods work best for creating end-to-end online courses?

• curriculum development, community support features, learning management systems, etc.

Research on online lessons...

What makes online lessons more or less effective?

• Interface design, lesson content, use of video, audio, or other media, etc.