Body
Effective eLearning comes from using information and communication technologies (ICT) to broaden educational opportunity and help students develop the skills they—and their countries—need to thrive in the 21st century. While conclusive, longitudinal studies remain to be done, an emerging body of evidence suggests that eLearning can deliver substantial positive effects:
• Students are more engaged and able to develop 21st century skills.
• Teachers have a more positive attitude toward their work and are able to provide more personalized learning.
• Family interaction and parental involvement may increase.
• Communities benefit from bridging the digital divide. Economically disadvantaged students and children with disabilities benefit particularly.
• Economic progress can result from direct job creation in the technology industry as well as from developing a better-educated workforce.
This paper summarizes some key research findings to help educational leaders identify relevant eLearning benefits and make judicious decisions as they develop their eLearning strategies. To further aid in planning, the paper shares findings relating to the challenges of eLearning implementation and provides a bibliography for additional reading.
