Characterizing the Online Learning Landscape

Abstract

Hundreds of millions of people learn something new online every day. Simultaneously, the study of online education has blossomed within the human computer interaction community, with new systems, experiments, and observations creating and exploring previously undiscovered online learning environments. In this study we endeavor to characterize this entire landscape of online learning experiences using a national survey of 2260 US adults who are balanced to match the demographics of the U.S. We examine the online learning resources that they consult, and we analyze the subjects that they pursue using those resources. Furthermore, we compare both formal and informal online learning experiences on a larger scale than has ever been done before, to our knowledge, to better understand which subjects people are seeking for intensive study. We find that there is a core set of online learning experiences that are central to other experiences and these are shared among the majority of people who learn online. We conclude by showing how looking outside of these core online learning experiences can reveal opportunities for innovation in online education.CCS Concepts: • Applied computing → E-learning; • Human-centered computing → Human computer interaction (HCI).

Using online technologies for informal learning by future teachers of English

“…To begin with, the research findings indicate that the most commonly used online technologies among future English teachers in their time outside class are Google, YouTube, and social networks (Facebook, Messenger). These findings are consistent with the results of previous similar studies (Czerkawski 2012, Swanson & Walker 2015, Kashou 2016, Kross, Hargittai & Redmiles 2021.…”

“…According to Statista (2022), the most popular website worldwide is Google, followed by YouTube. The study of Kross, Hargittai and Redmiles's (2021) among adults in the United States identified YouTube as the most popular online learning source, used both for formal and informal learning. YouTube is generally a very common resource for foreign language learning, as shown in the following subchapter.…”

Understanding the Evolving Online Learning Landscape: The Case of Science and Religion

“…From Wikipedia to WebMD to online courses and hobby communities on social media, the internet is increasingly central to how people learn (Kross et al, 2021). Going online can supplement or even replace other sources, such as print media, a formal education, and consulting with a doctor (Miller et al, 2021; V.…”

“…Whereas earlier research into online learning investigated the internet as a monolithic resource (Miller, 2010), more recently scholars have sought to distinguish the different ways people turn to the internet to learn (Kross et al, 2021; Miller et al, 2021) and the consequences in areas like politics (Bode, 2016; Dimitrova et al, 2014) and health (Cinelli et al, 2020; Dobransky & Hargittai, 2012). In a survey of more than 2000 Americans conducted in 2019, Kross et al (2021) highlight the popularity of different online sources for learners. YouTube, informational articles, how-to guides, and Wikipedia were more popular.…”

“…With the vast growth of online resources over the past two decades, including social media, it is important to understand how people take advantage of the internet to learn about important topics such as science and religion. Recent studies give a sense of the shape of the online learning landscape as it grows, including the popularity of various online sources of learning for science (Kross et al, 2021; Miller et al, 2021). We know less about people’s learning experiences in areas such as religion, despite significant research about religious communities online (Campbell & Evolvi, 2020).…”