USDLA has been a leading hub for distance learning resources and research for over 30 years, providing self-service access to comprehensive data while encouraging community contributions.
For nearly four decades, USDLA has been a key contributor for all aspects of distance learning. In those early years, distance learning practitioners were too often regarded as a curiosity, at best. That, of course, has changed. No small portion of the credit for this shift is due to researchers who collected data that might both improve our methodologies and inform the public, educational providers and consumers alike, on the benefits of technology-driven education.
Current data along with certain landmark studies are available through the links below. We have curated the links in this way to streamline our interface and to enhance the accessibility of our most current data. If you are aware of distance-learning resources which we have overlooked, we encourage you to send us your suggestions at research@usdla.org.
Research Resources
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work
Quarterly Policy Review Fall 2024
AI in Higher Ed: Hype, Harm, or Help
World Economic Forum AI in workplace report
UN Report for Governing AI for Humanity
Is you AI Policy Already Obsolete?
Innovative Future Concepts for Higher Education
Teachers Involvement with AI in the Classroom
CRPE’s Thinking Forward on AI Forum
Advice for Generative AI in HE
University Policies for generative AI
The Role of AI in Decision-Making: A Business Leader’s Guide
College Education may not be Preparing Students for G-AI
Leading the AI Revolution in HBCU
Call for partnerships between corporations, government and higher ed on AI
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations
Designing for Education with Artificial Intelligence: An Essential Guide for Developers
EU Artificial Intelligence Act
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/04/skill-building-age-of-ai/
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-04-10-ai-guidelines-for-k-12-aim-to-bring-order-to-the-wild-west
https://mashable.com/article/eu-ai-law
https://apnews.com/article/idaho-university-of-phoenix-acquisition-323c3760e773e127dc77aafcbd136614
- https://www.highereddive.com/news/3-state-policy-trends-that-will-shape-higher-ed-in-2024/705902/
- Adams Becker, S., Cummins, M., Davis, A., Freeman, A., Hall Giesinger, C., and Ananthanarayanan, V. (2017). NMC Horizon Report: 2017 Higher Education Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
*Download: http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2017-nmc-horizon-report-he-EN.pdf
- Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A. (2017). NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: 2017 K-12 Edition
*Download: https://cdn.nmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-nmc-cosn-horizon-report-K12-advance.pdf
- Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Cummins, M., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A., & HHHHall, C. (2016). NMC Horizon Report: 2016 Higher Education Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
*Download: http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2016-nmc-horizon-report-he-EN.pdf
- Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A. (2015). NMC Horizon Report: 2015 K-12 Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.NMC Horizon Report-2015 K-12 Edition
*Download: http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2015-nmc-horizon-report-k12-EN.pdf
- Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A. (2015). NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Higher Education Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
*Download: http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2015-nmc-horizon-report-HE-EN.pdf Johnson, L., Adams
- Becker, S., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A. (2014). NMC Horizon Report: 2014 K-12 Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.NMC Horizon Report-2014 K-12 Edition
*Download: http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2014-nmc-horizon-report-k12-EN.pdf
- Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., Freeman, A. (2014). NMC Horizon Report: 2014 Higher Education Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
Download: http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2014-nmc-horizon-report-he-EN.pdf
- Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Cummins, M., Estrada, V., Freeman, A., and Ludgate, H. (2013). The NMC Horizon Report: 2013 Higher Education Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
*Download: http://www.nmc.org/system/files/pubs/1360189731/2013-horizon-report-HE.pdf
- Keeping Pace with K-12 digital learning: An Annual Review of Policy and Practice (2014)
*Download: http://www.kpk12.com/wp-content/uploads/EEG_KP2014-fnl-lr.pdf
- Keeping Pace with K-12 online and blended learning: An Annual Review of Policy and Practice (2013)
*Download: http://www.kpk12.com/wp-content/uploads/EEG_KP2013-lr.pdf
- The Digital Revolution and Higher Education, 2011, Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C
Download: http://www.pewinternet.org/files/old-media//Files/Reports/2011/PIP-Online-Learning.pdf
- Mickey Shachar, M., & Neumann, Y. (2010) Years of Research on the Academic Performance Differences Between Traditional and Distance Learning: Summative Meta-Analysis and Trend Examination. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching Vol. 6, No. 2, June 2010
- S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies, Washington, D.C., 2010.
* Download: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf
* Indicates public domain, no copyright, or no redistribution restrictions under Creative Commons licensing
- Teaching Online Preparation Toolkit
- Learning Tech Ecosystem
- McKinsey Study
- Chloe9 Report – https://qualitymatters.org/sites/default/files/research-docs-pdfs/QM-Eduventures-EDUCAUSE-CHLOE%209-Report-2024.pdf?token=ziJnly0ubc_9Px3iuhJLfbesT9JE2MR_8ZuBfFmpfcQ
- Distance learning Guidelines: https://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/u-s-department-of-ed-revisits-distance-learning-guidelines
- The Condition of Education in the U.S. (May 2017). S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. Washington, DC.
- Yes, remote learning can work for preschoolers: The largest-ever humanitarian intervention in early childhood education shows that remote learning can produce results comparable to a year of in-person teaching. https://www.
technologyreview.com/2024/02/ 23/1088127/remote-learning- preschoolers-early-childhood- education-teaching/
*Download: https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2017/2017144.pdf
- THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF ONLINE EDUCATION (CHLOE). Legon, R., & Garrett, R. (2017). Quality Matters & Eduventures Survey of Chief Online Officers.
Download: https://www.qualitymatters.org/sites/default/files/research-docs-pdfs/CHLOE-First-Survey-Report.pdf
- The Condition of Education in the U.S. (May 2016). S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. Washington, DC.
*Download: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2016/2016144.pdf
- Online Report Card–Tracking Online Education in the U.S. (2016). I. Elaine Allen & Dr. Jeff Seaman (Feb., 2016). Babson Survey Research Group and Quahog Research Group, LLC.
Download: http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/onlinereportcard.pdf
- The Digest of Education Statistics, 2013.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. Washington, DC. (May 2015, includes enrollment in distance education courses).
*Download: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2015/2015011.pdf
- The Condition of Education 2015.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. Washington, DC.
*Download: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2015/2015144.pdf (Note: Includes 2013-2014 undergraduate and graduate enrollment in distance education courses by level and control of institutions)
- Grade Change–Tracking Online Education in the U.S.—2014. I. Elaine Allen & Dr. Jeff Seaman (Feb., 2015). Babson Survey Research Group, Pearson, & Sloan-C.
Download: http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/gradelevel.pdf
Infographic: http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/gradelevelinfo.pdf
- Grade Change–Tracking Online Education in the U.S.—2013. I. Elaine Allen & Dr. Jeff Seaman (Jan., 2014). Babson Survey Research Group, Pearson, & Sloan-C.
Download: http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/gradechange.pdf
- Changing Course–10 Yrs of Tracking Online Education in the U.S. (2013). Babson Survey Research Group, Quahog Research Group, LLC, and The Sloan Consortium
Download: http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/changingcourse.pdf
Understanding Your Finances: A Guide for College Students” – https://upgradedpoints.com/
- Persistence and Attainment of first time post-secondary students after 3 years
- An Overview of Accreditation of Higher Education in the United States
Download: https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43826
- Miron, G. & Gulosino, C. (2016). Virtual Schools Report 2016: Directory and Performance Review. Boulder, CO: National Education Policy Center.
*Download: http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/virtual-schools-annual-2016
- Aslanian, C. B., & Clinefelter, D. L. (2013) Online college students 2013: Comprehensive data on demands and preferences. Louisville, KY: The Learning House, Inc.
Download: http://www.learninghouse.com/files/documents/resources/Online-College-Students-2013.pdf
- Cost remains largest barrier to higher education
- Post-Secondary Pathways for the Workforce of the Future
- Future of Good jobs: Projections through 2031
- New America’s Eighth Annual Survey on Higher Education
- Survey of a State Authorization Professional
- Gallup report on higher education
- 2024 Educause Horizon Report – Teaching and Learning Edition
- Net neutrality is back: U.S. promises fast, safe and reliable internet for all
- Trends in higher education – https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/public-sector/latest-trends-in-higher-education.html
- CAEL report – https://www.cael.org/hubfs/018-24%20CAEL%20Stopping%20Out%20Report.pdf
- State of Student Debt in the U.S for 2023
- National Educational Technology Plan 2016. Future Ready Learning–Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education. Office of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education
*Download: http://tech.ed.gov/files/2015/12/NETP16.pdf
- Saba, Fred (2011). Distance Education in the United States, Past, Present, Future. EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY/November–18 December 2011
Download: http://distance-educator.com/wp-content/uploads/ET-article-Saba-11-12-2011.pdf
- How Fast Is Broadband Internet? The FCC Just Quadrupled the Answer – The FCC has raised the benchmark for broadband speed for the first time in nearly a decade.
https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/how-fast-is- broadband-internet-the-fcc- just-quadrupled-the-answer/ - State Opportunity Index – https://stradaeducation.org/report/state-opportunity-index/
ROI Institute – ROI Institute Launches ROI Estimator – ROI Institute – The ROI Estimator, a tool developed by ROI Institute that allows individuals to estimate the ROI on planned program design and implementation, can help you optimize the value of your programs and projects.
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How it was Developed
The ROI Estimator is based on research using 2,000 ROI studies in talent development. Our analysis showed what factors contributed to a better ROI. In the end, eight factors were identified that, when properly addressed, will ensure a program will deliver a positive ROI.
Free Educational Journals
Worldwide Professional and Scholarly Journals
Article Collections
- Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), U.S. Dept. of Education
- Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE) Publications
Journals
- Australasian Journal of Educational Technology
- Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology
- EDUCAUSE Review Online
- European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning
- International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Education (requires registration)
- International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning
- International Journal of Instructional Media
- International Journal of E-Learning & Distance Education (IJEDE)
- International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
- International Journal of Instructional Technology & Distance Learning
- International Review of Research on Open and Distance Learning
- Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning
- Journal of Applied Instructional Design
- Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks
- Journal of Computer Mediated Communication
- Journal of Computing in Teacher Education
- Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia
- Journal of Educational Technology & Society
- Journal of Instructional Science & Technology
- Journal of Online Learning and Teaching (JOLT)
- Journal of Online Learning Research
- Journal of Research on Technology in Education
- Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
- Journal of Technology and Teacher Education
- Journal of Technology Education
- Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment (discontinued—archived articles 2008-2010)
- Knowledge Management & E-Learning: An International Journal (KM&EL): Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT)
- New Horizons for Learning
- Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration
- Online Learning Journal (formerly Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks-JALN)
- Turkish Journal of Online Learning & Distance Education
- Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology
- United Distance Education for Eastern Europe western Asia Northern Africa (Glokalde)