Persistence (also called retention) is defined as remaining enrolled in the institution, presumably until degree attainment or completion. Online courses can help students achieve this, because they provide options for learning that were previously not available to them (Drennan, Kennedy, & Pisarski, 2005). Satisfying and rewarding interactions with the formal and informal academic and social systems of the institution lead to greater integration and persistence (Tinto, 1975). However, teachers of

Online Learning Since the advent of the Internet, online learning has increased exponentially. Online learning is utilized by K-12 schools, by public universities and colleges, and there has been an explosion in for-profit online schools as well. Twenty years ago, the industry did not really exist -- distance education was usually some form of correspondence course . In 2014, Forbes estimated the industry to be worth around $107 billion in

Online Learning What is the future of distance learning (including online learning as well as distance alternatives to internet delivered instruction)? The future of distance learning is often viewed in black and white terms -- that is, that online learning will completely replace face-to-face instruction in the classroom, or that online learning is destructive to the purpose of pedagogy. However, the truth is likely to be between the two extremes. On one

There is also a socialization that comes with regular classroom learning experiences, e.g., asking questions, listening politely to others that does not occur in cyberspace classrooms. In classroom settings, also, students can enjoy the intellectual stimulation of live lectures and discussions, and these same experiences are not available online. Similarly, students in a classroom can ask questions about and request clarifications of learning materials immediately in class, while online

Fifth, the NCLB is devoid of any meaningful consequences for failing to achieve federal objectives other than the publication of such failures in conjunction with the rights of parents to request transfers of their children to better-performing academic institutions (Darling-Hammond 2004). Critics have suggested that the most likely result of enforcement of such limited consequences for noncompliance is the overcrowding of institutions who fulfill the federal requirements to their detriment

(Hansen, 2006) Adults who already have degrees, and are weary of the college experience can also make use of online classes to pursue career-enhancing degrees, such as an MBA (Master's of Business Administration) part-time, or gain a certificate that offers them a new career path, such as in website or graphic design. It is not simply the more responsible adult who will benefit from online learning. It can be a