A recent report conducted by SRI International for the U.S. Department of Education seems to indicate that it might be.

This report compared online and traditional classroom students and their academic performance levels between the years of 1996 and 2008. Its conclusion? “On average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.” This means an average percentile rank of 59th for online learners compared to 50th for traditional classroom learners.

While this report followed some students at the K-12 level, most of the subjects were college-level students. Could this be the end of classroom learning as we know it? Educational experts don’t think so. But they do think our country’s educational institutions will need to keep up with the online learning trend in the coming years. Today’s online learning environment is especially tailored to meet the student’s needs, and technologies such as email, video messaging, instant messaging and collaboration mean that many students will find unique chances to be engaged in their learning. Schools who stay hip to new technological trends can attract some of the best and brightest students.

Education experts see the exciting potential for learning communities and student collaborations that online education can create. They predict that more and more universities and colleges will offer online programs to their students.

Think learning online is the right choice for you? Search for online colleges and universities on Career Explorer today!