Copy.ai Content Summary:
Online education programs require a concerted effort to improve the available outcomes data for all involved, asserts Robert Kelchen in his opinion piece in Inside Higher Ed. One of the main challenges is differentiating outcomes of students in online versus in-person programs, as they’re often grouped together in data sets. Kelchen suggests several amendments to data collection, including clearly indicating when a program is exclusively offered online, reporting student completions of online versus in-person programs separately, and allocating College Scorecard debt and earnings statistics separately for online and in-person programs. Only with these changes can the systematic analysis of online program outcomes lead to effective policy guidance and improved student information.
Why You May Want To Read This Content:
- Understand the Limitations of Current Data: This article lends insight into the challenges of data collection for online education. Understanding these limitations can help a graduate business program leader more effectively interpret and consult the data they have access to, and recognize where gaps might exist in their evaluation of online programs.
- Improve Program Analysis and Reporting: The author’s suggestions for improvements in collecting and reporting data, if implemented, could help create more accurate and insightful reports about online program outcomes. This could improve tracking, analysis, and strategic planning for a leader in a graduate business program.
- Adjust to the Online Education Trend: The article underscores the growing prevalence of online programs and the need for a clearer understanding of how these programs perform. For a leader of the graduate business program, recognizing this trend can be essential in proposing or implementing online versions of their program.
- Enhance Student Information and Career Guidance: With recommended changes in outcomes data, prospective and current students will have better information about their options. Improved data can influence how program leaders advise students, making this an important read for a leader focused on student success and career guidance.