Public Awareness and Views of K-12 Online Learning in Michigan 2017

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Introduction

From September 20 to 27, 2017, Public Sector Consultants Inc. (PSC), on behalf of Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute, conducted surveys with 800 Michigan adults and 400 college students (88% from Michigan). These surveys were part of ongoing public opinion research conducted by Michigan Virtual to better understand the opinions, preferences, and beliefs of Michigan residents about online learning opportunities for high school students in the state.

The survey of Michigan adults complements previous surveys completed in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and includes opinions and preferences about online learning opportunities for public school students in the state. Identical question wording was used to allow for comparison, but for this iteration, PSC used electronic surveys with panelists that were recruited and vetted by Survey Sampling International. As in past years, poststratification weights were applied for gender, race, age, income, and educational attainment using American Community Survey estimates of Michigan’s population.

The survey of Michigan college students includes questions about their specific experiences with online learning in high school and college. Taken together, these surveys allow for continued monitoring of opinion trends about online learning, while providing important context about the experiences of current college students.

This summary provides highlights of both 2017 online surveys, along with appropriate comparisons to the 2014–2016 surveys. Frequency reports for both surveys are included as an appendix to this report. In all tables in this report, percentages may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. Because 2017 online survey respondents were required to respond to each question, “Don’t know/refused” was not a valid response option.

Main Findings

Public opinion among Michigan’s adults continues to be consistent across survey years, and Michigan’s college students believe in the importance of online learning prior to attending college/university:

• Michigan adults consistently view online learning as important: A strong majority of respondents in 2014 (79 percent), 2015 (71 percent), 2016 (80 percent), and 2017 (83 percent), feel that it is somewhat or very important for middle-school and high-school students to have the option of enrolling in an online course at their local school district. This sentiment is echoed by Michigan’s college students, with 85 percent saying it is somewhat or very important. A learning management system was defined to survey respondents as a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of educational courses (such as Blackboard, Desire2Learn, Moodle, BrainHoney, Google Classroom, Schoology, etc.). An online course was defined as a course where most or all of the instruction is received online—through a computer or mobile device—rather than in person.
• Michigan college students see the value of online learning as a way to prepare for college: The vast majority of Michigan college students think that students who used a learning management system1 (86 percent) or took an online course (78 percent) in high school are better prepared for college/university, and 75 percent feel that they would have benefitted from having more online learning opportunities in high school.
• Online learning in high school does not match the reality of college expectations: On average, Michigan college students engage in online learning activities twice as often as they did in high school. The vast majority (86–91 percent) of students use the types of online activities and tools included in the survey as part of their college/university learning experience.
• Online learning is expected to grow: In both 2015 and 2016, respondents said they thought slightly less than half of current Michigan K–12 students will enroll in an online course during the next year, with that estimate increasing to about two-thirds of students ten years from now. Respondents in 2017 had similar sentiments, with the expectation that 30 percent of students will enroll during the next year, increasing to 59 percent of students ten years from now. At the same time, nearly all (93 percent) of Michigan college students say it is very likely (53 percent) or somewhat likely (40 percent) that they will need to engage in online learning as part of their future job (e.g., professional development).

Survey of Michigan Adults

The electronic survey of 800 Michigan adults included 400 male and 400 female respondents. In general, the 2017 electronic sample was similarly representative compared to past telephone samples, but was more representative with regards to age (there were more younger respondents, and fewer older respondents). This difference is likely due to the mode of data collection, which may have contributed to some of the observed differences highlighted below.

General Opinions

As shown in Table 1, there is consistent sentiment regarding the importance of online learning across all four years of the survey. Respondents overwhelmingly see the importance of online learning for middle school and high-school students, with a strong majority saying it is somewhat or very important for students to have the option of enrolling in an online course at their local school district.

At the same time, Table 2 shows that the majority of respondents feel that Michigan high school students should be required to take at least one course online prior to graduation (35 percent in 2014, 29 percent in 2015 and 2016, and 35 percent in 2017) or one course each year (28 percent in 2014, 26 percent in 2015 and 2016, and 34 percent in 2017) prior to graduation. Conversely, about a third of respondents in 2014 (36 percent) and nearly half of respondents in 2015 and 2016 (43 percent) feel that students should not be required to take an online course in order to graduate. The 2017 respondents were more likely to say that students should be required to take at least one course, and less likely to say that they should not be required to take an online course prior to graduation. While overall, the 2017 results continue to demonstrate that public opinion is more or less evenly divided between the three options, this slight difference could be attributed to the mode of data collection. As vetted online panelists, they might be more inclined to have a positive opinion about online activities, including learning.

When asked when online learning should begin, opinions are consistent over time. Seventh or eighth grade is seen as the most suitable grade for a student to take a single course online across all four survey years. There was a slight downward trend in the average reported appropriate grade at which students should take an entire curriculum online, from grade nine in 2014 to grade eight in 2015, but it increased back to grade nine in 2016 and 2017. Taken together, these results show a consistent sentiment that online learning is suited for secondary education.

From 2015 to 2017, respondents were also asked how likely they felt current Michigan students in grades six through 12 were to take an online course in three specific settings: (1) college or vocational school, (2) the workforce, or (3) high school. As the data below show, the overwhelming majority of respondents feel that students are likely to take an online course in all three settings, but the strongest opinion is that students will encounter online learning later in life, either as they continue their education/training after high school or start working.

Results were consistent between 2015, 2016, and 2017 survey respondents:

• 95 percent of respondents say students are either very likely or somewhat likely to take an online course when they go to college or vocational training, with 54 percent very likely in 2015, 56 percent in 2016, and 60 percent in 2017.
• 81 percent of respondents say students are either very likely or somewhat likely to take an online course when they join the workforce (on-the-job training), with 48 percent very likely in 2015, 51 percent in 2016, and 42 percent in 2017.
• 77 percent of respondents say students are either very likely or somewhat likely to take an online course before they graduate from high school, with 38 percent very likely in 2015, 36 percent in 2016, and 32 percent in 2017.

In 2017, respondents continue to indicate that online learning will be used more in the future. When asked to predict what percentage of Michigan K–12 students would take an online course in the next year, the average was 42 percent in 2015, 43 percent in 2016, and 30 percent in 2017. Respondents see that amount increasing to 63 percent ten years from now in the 2015 survey, 66 percent in 2016, and 59 percent in 2017. This is another case where the mode of data collection might be contributing to the observed differences. While the pattern of expectations is the same, 2017’s online respondents seem to have lower perceptions than the telephone respondents in 2015 and 2016.

Respondents were also asked to rate their level of agreement with four statements about online learning in Michigan. As in past survey years, a majority of 2017 respondents agreed with each of the four statements presented and agreement was strongest with the same three statements:

• 85 percent either strongly agree or somewhat agree that a certified teacher should be assigned to teach online courses, with 62 percent strongly agreeing in 2015, 65 percent in 2016, and 54 percent in 2017.
• 82 percent either strongly agree or somewhat agree that schools should provide a dedicated space for students to work on their online courses while at school (for example, a “homeroom” or computer lab), with 56 percent strongly agreeing in 2015, 60 percent in 2016, and 45 percent in 2017.
• 75 percent of respondents either strongly agree or somewhat agree that knowing how to learn online is part of what it means to be college and career ready after high school, with 50 percent strongly agreeing in 2015, 58 percent in 2016, and 30 percent in 2017.

Consistent with past survey years, 2017 respondents were less likely to agree that their local school district should offer more online courses for middle-school and high-school students; however, the strength of their sentiment is lower compared to previous survey years:

• 74 percent of respondents strongly agreed (25 percent) or somewhat agreed (49 percent) with this statement, which is an increase compared to 66 percent in 2015 (33 percent strongly agree and 33 percent somewhat agree), and 71 percent in 2016 (32 percent strongly agree and 39 percent somewhat agree).

Preferences

Respondents were presented with two or three factual statements about online learning in Michigan, and then asked if they felt the statements were true, false, or if they did not know. In general, respondents demonstrated a basic lack of knowledge. Across all four survey years, between a third and half of respondents were unable to answer the questions (that is, they replied that they “didn’t know”), and only about a third could accurately indicate that the statements were, in fact, true (as seen in Table 3).

KEY: T = True; F = False; DK = Don’t Know
NOTES: One option was not included in the 2014 or 2015 surveys, and the phrase “Michigan requires K–12…” replaced “Since 2006, Michigan has required K–12…” on the 2016 survey.

Respondents were also asked to determine their preference for various online enrollment options and the reasons for selecting online courses, as shown in Table 4. If respondents did not have a child enrolled in a K‒12 Michigan school, they were asked to respond hypothetically. Across all survey years, the single course options were preferred and statistically equivalent, with a slight preference toward enrolling a child for a course they had previously failed. While preference increased slightly in 2016, enrolling a child in a full-time cyber charter school was far less preferred, with less than half saying it was very or somewhat likely in either year.

NOTE: Questions were not asked in 2014, and not all questions were asked in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

The last question respondents were asked about related to adult supervision. While respondents in 2017 have the same top two preferences, the strength of their sentiment is different when compared to previous survey years.

• Over half (60 percent) of respondents prefer that the teacher or adult is available during the school day, during an established time, and specifically for the online course, an increase when compared to 47 percent in 2015 and 42 percent in 2016.
• About a quarter (22 percent) prefer that the teacher or adult is available to answer questions before or after school if a student requests help with the online course (not during the school day), a decrease compared to 30 percent in 2015 and 26 percent in 2016.
• The least preferred option (17 percent in 2015, and 24 percent in 2016) is that the teacher or adult is available during the school day, but not exclusively for the online course (for example, during a student’s “homeroom” time).

Correlations and Subgroup Differences

In addition to analyzing responses for all Michigan adults in the sample, PSC examined the responses of subgroups for any statistically significant differences in opinions and preferences, as well as any correlations.

Pearson correlations were run for three of the variables: the importance of online learning, and the prevalence of online learning now, and the prevalence of online learning ten years from now. There were some statistically significant correlations among these variables at a 99 percent confidence level that were consistent those found in previous survey years.

• The higher the rating of importance, the higher the predicted level of students to take an online course next year (p=.182) and ten years from now (p=.181).
• The higher the percentage of students predicted to take an online course next year, the higher the predicted level was ten years from now (p=.641).

In addition to running Pearson correlations, PSC used a Chi-Square test of association to look for statistically significant differences in importance by gender, race, age, education level, and whether respondents had school-age children in their household. As was found in 2014 and 2015, there were statistically significant differences for importance by income, race, gender, education level, and the presence of school-age children in the household.

• Race (p=.000): 71 percent of Asian respondents felt that the option of enrolling in an online course in middle school or high school was very important, compared to 37 percent of African American and 38 percent of white respondents.
• Gender (p=.000): 42 percent of female respondents felt that the option of enrolling in an online course in middle school or high school was very important, compared to 34 percent of male respondents.
• Education level (p=.000): 40 percent of respondents who had completed postgraduate college education felt that the option of enrolling in an online course in middle school or high school was very important, compared to 35 percent of respondents who had not completed high school.

Survey of Michigan College Students

The electronic survey of Michigan college students included 400 respondents. Of these, 91 percent said that they attend college in Michigan, and 89 percent graduated from a Michigan high school or home school. Given the difficulty in obtaining 400 completed surveys, it was not practical to establish rigid quotas for subgroups within the sample. As a result, 76 percent of respondents were female; however, there were no statistically significant differences between males and females on survey responses.

Online Learning Activities and Tools

To begin, respondents were asked questions about online learning activities in high school and college, tools that they used in high school, and tools that they are currently using in college. When asked how many classes they took in high school that used a learning management system, the majority (62 percent) of respondents said that they took a few (35 percent) or none (27 percent). This contrasts sharply with their college experience:

• Nearly all (90 percent) said that they had taken a college or university course that used a learning management system.
• At the same time, the vast majority (86 percent) think that students who used a learning management system in high school are better prepared for college/university.

As shown in Table 5, online learning activities are far more common in college than high school. Nearly all respondents (86 to 91 percent) participate in these activities in college/university, but far fewer (33 to 61 percent) did so in high school.

Online Courses

Next, respondents were asked about online courses that they might have taken in high school or at their college/university. When asked how important it was for students in middle school or high school to have the option of enrolling in an online class in their local school district, Michigan college students had similar sentiment to other Michigan adults, with 87 percent saying it was either very important (45 percent) or somewhat important (42 percent).

A majority (59 percent) of respondents reported taking an online course during high school. On average, respondents took two online courses in high school, and the vast majority (81 percent) said that they have taken an online course at their college/university. Of the 11 percent that said they have not taken an online course in their college/university, most (62 percent) said that it is either very likely (23 percent) or somewhat likely (39 percent) that they will take an online course before they graduate.

Consistent with their opinions about learning management systems, a strong majority of respondents (78 percent) also feel that students who took an online course in high school are better prepared for college/university. Students who had taken an online course in high school were more likely to say this better prepared them for college (86 percent) compared to those who had not (67 percent).

Finally, 75 percent of Michigan college students feel that they would have benefitted from more online learning opportunities in high school, and 93 percent think it is very likely (53 percent) or somewhat likely (40 percent) that they will engage in online learning as part of their future job.

Appendix A: Michigan Virtual Statewide Survey of Michigan Adults

Hello! This survey is being conducted by Public Sector Consultants, a nonpartisan policy research firm in Lansing, Michigan. We are interested in your opinions about online learning opportunities for public school students in Michigan.

Your participation in this survey is voluntary. Your responses are confidential and will not be linked to you in any reports. The survey will take only a few minutes and your comments are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Craig Wiles of Public Sector Consultants at (517) 484-4954 or [email protected].

[N = 800]

Introduction

Opinions about Online Learning

Next, we would like to get your opinion about online learning and how it is delivered in Michigan’s public schools.

[Programming Note: Have this text appear AFTER they have answered q4]:

“So you know, each of the three statements about online learning in Michigan are actually true.”

Next, we would like to know how much you agree or disagree with some statements about online learning.

Q8. What is the earliest grade in school you think it could be appropriate for a student to take their entire curriculum online? [AVG. = 9.0]

Q9. What is the earliest grade in school you think it could be appropriate for a student to take a single course online? [AVG. = 7.8]

Demographics

Appendix B: Michigan Virtual Michigan College Student Survey

Hello! This survey is being conducted by Public Sector Consultants, a nonpartisan policy research firm in Lansing, Michigan. We are interested in your opinions about online learning opportunities for public school students in Michigan, and would like to learn about your experiences with online learning in high school and college.

Your participation in this survey is voluntary. Your responses are confidential and will not be linked to you in any reports. The survey will take only a few minutes and your comments are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Craig Wiles of Public Sector Consultants at (517) 484-4954 or [email protected].

[N = 400]

Online Learning Activities and Tools

First, we would like to ask some questions about online learning activities and tools that you might have used in high school or are using now at your college/university. One common tool for online learning is the Learning Management System. A Learning Management System is a software application for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting and delivery of educational courses.

Online Courses

Next, we would like to ask some questions about online courses you might have taken in high school or at your college/university. For this survey, an online course is one where most or all of the instruction is received online – through a computer or mobile device – rather than in person.

Q6. How many online courses did you take during high school? [AVG. = 2.5]

About You

Demographics

THANK-YOU!