In May 2009, the US Department of Education released a meta-analysis of effectiveness studies of online, face-to-face, and blended learning models. The analysis found that online learning produced better student outcomes than face-to-face classes, and that blended learning offered an even "larger advantage" over face-to-face. The hybrid approach…

As Web 2.0 technologies impact the evolution of online learning, they are certain to blur the definitional lines between electronic portfolios and personal learning environments (PLEs). According to Gary Brown, director of Washington State University's Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology, the Web 2.0 technologies that are emerging…