This report provides foundational knowledge needed to examine and understand the potential contributions of online learning to educational productivity, including a conceptual framework for understanding the necessary components of rigorous productivity analyses, drawing in particular on cost-effectiveness analysis. It includes (1) an overview of online learning for secondary education; (2) an introduction to the measurement of educational productivity; (3) the productivity potential of online learning; (4) opportunities to reduce educational costs through online learning and suggestions for future research; and (5) quality standards for online learning programs.
implications-online-learning