“There’s this thought that most participants are just coming for one or two classes, that online education is just used for shorter-term certificate programs,” Peller said, even after the caucus organized several presentations about online learning. “The number of students taking online courses, either completely or as part of a brick-and-mortar program, is not widely-known or discussed.”
Kalhlenberg said as education costs continue to rise while funding continues to disappear, politicians from both parties will keep looking to online learning as a potential solution, even as they grapple to understand its place in today’s educational — and political — landscape.
“There’s this sense that with online learning you can improve education and save money, which is something any politician from both parties will find intriguing,” he said.
Follow Jake New on Twitter at @eCN_Jake.
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