Giving Compass' Take:

• Justin Dellinger and Kate Lee-McCarthy at EdSurge discuss the disconnect between digital learning research and implementations in the classroom.

• Why is it vital to have effective digital learning methods? How important is research in the quest to discover the most effective technology in schools? 

• Read about educators' and students' perspectives on the impact of digital learning.

Supported by foundation funding leaders in this field shaped what has now become Every Learner Everywhere, a network of accomplished individuals and organizations that work together as partners to drive increases in digital technology implementations, provide advice and training, and develop resources for the higher education community at large.

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC), one of the 12 partner organizations of Every Learner Everywhere, was charged with identifying and understanding innovations in the digital education landscape. The first goal was to create an environmental scan of the digital learning environment in higher education with a focus on adaptive technology. To accomplish this task, OLC partnered with Dr. Tanya Joosten of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to lead the research project with her team at the National Research Center for Distance Education and Technological Advancements (DETA).

While the trends might have been expected, there were surprises in the findings. Mainly, this research highlighted a major disconnect between the lack of published empirical research and the popularity of specific trends within the digital learning landscape. Additionally, it was discovered that mass amounts of research published on specific trends have had little development completed at scale.

So what do we do with the results of this research? Joosten believes that it is critical to link technology to teaching and learning and recognize that each piece of technology is a part of much larger systems. Joosten remarked that an opportunity for future research can be found in “identifying institutional or organization models that will lead to the most successful implementation of technology and innovation that increases outcomes.” Delivering these models to a differentiated population of educators and learners requires an adaptive approach. Perhaps Every Learner Everywhere, with their focus on adaptive learning for student success, will be able to fill that need.

Read the full article about improving data on digital learning by Justin T. Dellinger and Kate Lee-McCarthy at EdSurge.