Category Archives: distance learning

The Coursera Gift Horse?

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Jon Becker | Permalink 0

On multiple occasions, a friend or family member not in the field of education has asked me for my opinion of Khan Academy. Maybe they saw Sal Khan on 60 Minutes or a teacher has introduced my friend or family member to KA. My response usually goes something like this: “I have a few concerns [...] Read more »

Coursera, distance learning, higher ed., MOOC, professioonal development, SNA

Triangulation or Strangulation?

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Jon Becker | Permalink 0


In the span of the last two weeks, three articles were published about the role of for-profit corporations in K-12 online learning. Individually and collectively, they are serious and comprehensive pieces of investigative journalism and they all reach similar conclusions and raise serious concerns about the role of these companies, especially K12, Inc., in the [...] Read more »

distance learning, Ed. Policy, K12 online learning virtual schools corporate profit

A critique of the NEPC report on K-12 online learning

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Jon Becker | Permalink 0


I have great respect for the folks at the National Educational Policy Center. In particular, I hold Gene Glass and Kevin Welner in very high regard; they are genuine, world-class scholars. But, I think they fouled up their newest policy brief, Online K-12 Schooling in the U.S.: Uncertain Private Ventures in Need of Public Regulation. [...] Read more »

critique, distance learning, Glass, NEPC, online learning, policy, research, Welner