Projects in Progress

Ithaka S+R is investigating the potential obstacles to widespread adoption of interactive online learning systems in two- and four-year colleges and universities. The goal of this study is to understand what benefits colleges and universities expect from learning technologies, what barriers they face in implementing them, and how they might be best shaped to serve different types of institutions.

Background 

Even though there are many “online courses” in existence today, the environment for interactive learning systems—those that are full-featured and used by teaching institutions to assist in the effective delivery of credit-bearing courses—is at a very early stage of development. New technologies point to the potential for system-wide effects through the creative use of interactive learning technologies. 

But questions remain as to the efficacy of these systems and the obstacles preventing them from being adopted.  Ithaka S+R is exploring the key obstacles that stand in the way of broadening the impact of these technologies to improve student learning, increase teaching productivity, and lower system-wide costs in the higher education community.

Methodology

Ithaka S+R is engaging with leaders, administrators, faculty members, and other key stakeholders to investigate the use of full-featured and interactive learning delivery systems that teaching institutions use to assist in the effective delivery of credit-bearing courses. 

This study complements Ithaka S+R’s Online Learning in Public Universities research project, which is testing the effectiveness of interactive online learning systems, and builds on Ithaka S+R’s experience with open courseware initiatives such as those profiled in Unlocking the Gates. 

Deliverable

A report will be publicly available in 2012.

Funding Support

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Advisory Committee