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Essay Instructions: The problem statement will be is online learning as effective as classroom learning. This is also the research problem. In addition add an abbreviated literature review of about two to three peer reviewed journals, a research proposal with a theoretical rationale for the proposed study. In addition add a purpose statement and one or more research question. Finally add a research design/methodology. Included in design is a source (probably grad students), sampling procedures (probably e-mailed survey with questions), and finally the variables of the quantitative study.

Essay Instructions: 1 What is the future of distance learning(including onlinelearning as well as distance alternatives to internet delivered instruction)
2 Does the future of online learning differ based on the educational setteing? For instance, is the future of online education different for K-12, postsecondary, and organizational learning envioronments? Why or Why not?
3What is the role of the teacher and instructional designer in such an envioronment?
4 What issues related to distance lerning (including online learning) still need to be addressed?

Essay Instructions: Using this article:

Park, J., & Choi, H. J. (2009). Factors influencing adult learners' decision to drop out or persist in online learning. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 12(4), 207-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1287038599?accountid=28844

Your task is to identify and summarize the main points of the research study according to the directions below. This is different than a typical essay. Read the whole assignment and ALL instructiions before beginning your paper.

Organize your paper using these headings, in this order. Your paper should look like the following list/outline, with these same subheadings listed in the same order. Just provide the information for each section.

I already know that the authors of the article can identify their purpose, hypothesis, etc. so you will not earn credit for copying the information from the article. Show me what you understand after reading the article. Explain each section very briefly so I can see what you learned from reading the article. Your summary of each section must be written in your own words. Do not copy or simply paraphrase.

Reference: This should be so accurate that the reader can go directly from your abstract to the original article. Give a complete APA style reference. (Hint: the reference above is in APA style, so your reference should like like that)

Purpose of the study: Sometimes the purpose is stated as an aim, an objective, or a goal. At other times, it is incorporated in a statement of a problem, leaving the reader to infer the purpose has a stated problem, a purpose, or both. If the purpose is inferred, you may state it in your own words.

Participants: The term ?participant? refers to the sample studied. Under this heading, you should include a description of ages, sexes, socio-economic status, school grade, mental level, number, and/or any other demographic characteristics given in the article to describe the particular sample used in the study.

Type of Study: Was it a quantitative or a qualitative study? Or were both types of data used? Please explain why you think so.

Hypothesis: What is the hypothesis of the study? If the hypothesis is inferred, you may state it in your own words.

Procedure: Sometimes the procedure is referred to as the ?method? and includes a description of control techniques, measuring devices, materials used and ways of proceeding, in attempting to achieve the purpose or purposes of the study.

Statistical Tests: Identify the statistical tests used in the article; examples might be chi square (x2), t-test, f-test, Mann-Whitney, etc.

Results or Findings: What actual data was reported by the author of the study? Explain the results -- don't just copy them.

Conclusions: What does the author of the research article believe the results or findings mean?

Critique: In each of the previous sections, you have been reporting what the article said. Now, I want you to think critically about what you've learned, and give me your own thoughts. Briefly describe your reaction to the article. For example, was it well-organized? Easy or difficult to understand (please explain why)? Did it present diverse perspectives about the topic? Don't limit yourself to just these questions -- be reflective about what you read.

Essay Instructions: The 3 page paper is an analysis of the topic (A Historical and Socio-Cultural Analysis of Online Learning ) from an historical and socio-cultural frame . This section provides context for the problem and should review literature related to the topic. The initial sections of the paper are below. The possible subjects that should be covered in this paper ordered are
1. The development of the internet and internet based courses
2. social ramifications of internet based courses
Be sure all citation is in proper APA style. Please email me if there are any questions.

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Sections 1 and 2 of paper:

Introduction
While the execution of education has changed in some fundamental ways in recent years, the United States throughout its history has recognized the importance of education. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, the delivery and the purpose of education have been influenced by technological innovations in some profound ways

Today?s American society, and even some of the world, views education as a lifelong endeavor. There can be no doubt that the ?age of the Internet? and online courses (distance education via the Internet) are helping working adults further their careers and broaden their personal horizons. (Levin 2002)

These transformations are directly linked to some specific historical events that in essences are changing the nature our social contract. Examples can be cited like, the millions of ?Rosies,? who were empowered by the experiences of the workplace. After World War II, these women were no longer content to return to their former lives and wanted more. This learning experience created a new social contract for women that achieved much through the Women?s Rights Movement. Similarly, the Civil Rights Movement and even more recent shifts in American demographics have created an increasingly multicultural society.

This study will provide a critical review of the scholarly and peer-reviewed literature concerning educational policy in the United States and the way it has been affected by socio-cultural factors and forces This study will seek to determine what historical events have played the most influential role on this evolution in learning and why.
To determine the impact of such historical events and the socio-cultural forces upon which they depended, a series of case studies will be presented leading to an analysis. The analysis will provide a mixture of the findings of the literature review and case studies.
Preliminary Review and Discussion

According to the U.S. Department of Education?s Web site, the ?Enhancing Education through Technology (ED Tech) initiative is a recent program that is designed to improve student achievement through the use of technology.
The basis for this initiative is the fact that, ?Technology is a tool like any other, and the value does not come from having access to it, but rather how it is used. ED Tech grants will improve the quality of education by developing new ways to apply this tool to teaching and learning? (The Facts About...21st-Century Technology, 2006, p. 1).
The fact sheet also reports that, ?Online tests deliver reports on student progress instantaneously instead of weeks later. When designed well, curriculum software can engage students in solid academic curriculum like never before? (emphasis added) (p. 2).

Confronted with multicultural classrooms full of adult learners of different ages and at different stages of their careers has become an ever increasing challenge to academic institutions. Keeping the curriculum relevant to the needs of adult learners? is not new but is one of the very reasons technological changes has been so important.
Technological changes introduced has also increased instructor workloads. By the time many teachers master one state-of-the-art application, it is obsolete and school administrators and school board push for ?new and improved? versions. In addition, online programs like Indiana Universities Division of Labor Studies instructors report spend more man hours with online course versus traditional face to face courses. (W. Mello, personal communication, Apr. 13, 2006)

There is a deficiency in the evidence in the understanding of how, when and why adult learners take the time and make the investment in learning. This knowledge will help educators and policymakers alike formulate better curricula and improve effectiveness and offerings of online courses.

As study in this regard could look at English as a second language (ESL) programs (also referred to as ?English for Speakers of Other Languages? or ESOL) that are becoming widespread in online learning forums (Adult education, 2006).

Although there are some similarities between teaching children and adults, there are some important differences that must be taken into account as well. According to the Wikipedia entry for ?adult learning? (2006), ?Educating adults differs from educating children in several ways. One of the most important differences is that adults have accumulated knowledge and experience which can either add value to a learning experience or hinder it? (p. 2). The encyclopedic entry here points out that yet another important difference between teaching adult learners and children is that adults typically use their knowledge in a practical way to help them learn more effectively (Adult education, 2006). The editors add that a recent historical event that helped fuel the adult education explosion was the introduction of personal computers in the last decade of the 20th century.

The preliminary research showed that a number of historical events can reasonably be asserted to have had a profound influence on the nature and purpose of education in the United States, with many of these events having taken place in the last few decades and even the last few years. Although the experts continue to debate the direction online learning will take in the future, the trend is clear today and the need to understand how, when and why adult learners make the investment in time and resources to pursue online learning programs will help policymakers and educators alike develop better programs to serve this growing population of learners.