Qualitative Research Proposal: Use of Online Learning for Children, and Implications for the Future

Before COVID-19 hit the United States, online learning was possible and do-able, and was in fact being utilized all over the U.S. However, once the pandemic hit our states, it is said that approximately 93% of households with school-aged kids were utilizing online learning in at least one format or another (Maryville University, 2022). This caused many issues, including children falling behind in school for digital inequity, lack of structure, decreased engagement—however, some students have thrived in this environment with flexible schedules, self-paced courses, less distractions, improved self-regulation skills, and the best one… more sleep (Maryville University, 2022).

Research Question: How will the use of online learning, or distance learning effect children and future generations social development?

Methods, Procedures, and Techniques: The methods would entail selecting random groups of individuals from each of the twelve grades, college could be an additional group, throughout the United States and evaluate their grades and progression prior to doing online learning, while doing online learning, and throughout the next 3 years of learning. There would be changes to whether some students choose to return to in-person learning, or stay doing online learning, or transition to homeschooling. Then it would be determining grades and progress following the online learning transition.

Data Collection: We would send out surveys, and request for transcripts and teachers notes to be evaluated throughout the course of the study.

Reason this Methodology Was Selected: Because you will see what the children think of online learning and their progress, what the parents think, and how the children are actually doing. You will receive concrete evidence that proves or disproves the children’s assumptions of how well they are or are not doing.

Advantages to this Methodology: You will receive concrete evidence on how the child is progressing in school, and what their method for continued learning is. Also, whether or not they continue in furthering their education, and also drop-out rates.

Disadvantages to this Methodology: The disadvantage to this method is that the amount of data to review, especially over the course of 3 years after going to online learning (not including how the child did prior to online learning) will be astronomical. It will take a lot of work to get through all of the evidence submitted, and to ensure quality control, and complete data will be a full-time job for many individuals.

Sample: Students that transitioning to online learning or homeschooling in the last 2 years from all grades, Kindergarten through 12th Grade (college for additional groups).

Sample Participants: Students in each grade.

How Does the Sample Represent the Population?: By selecting random samples from each grade, this represents the population as a whole because it reflects children as they age through school years.

Procedures: The recruitment procedures would be sending information to schools (public and private) and homeschool programs to be given to families regarding an initial survey. Families that submit answers to the survey will be evaluated for qualification into the program, ensuring that they went to online learning and are still in school. Those that dropped out is good information and good data to have, but there would be no further information to collect.

Study Procedures: Through the use of surveys from parents, and students, transcripts, report cards and teacher notes for each of the selected students would be the study procedure. This would need to be done on a computer, and likely in an office setting—home or professional.

Benefits: The benefit of this study would be understand how online learning will effect future generations. This could be used to mold online learning differently (i.e., make necessary changes to get students back on track) or it could be modified to allow for a better study/life balance. This will also shape future research into whether or not this next generation of adults will be able to fully function in a in-person workforce, or whether or not they would thrive best in an online workforce-based world as well.

Benefits to Career Field: The benefits to the career field could be knowing what the disadvantages are. If employers are better able to understand what children have been facing for the last 12 years of learning, and apply different methods to their work place… the turnover rate or retention rate would not go up significantly as these members enter society.