Thought leadership through thought partnership
Our team regularly develops white papers on today's most pressing topics across online learning based on trends and needs we identify across all edX partners.
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Key Frameworks
Learning Experience Design Framework
An overview of our learner-centered, research-grounded approach to digital pedagogy.
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Modular Design Framework
A guide for creating flexible, remixable, portable, durable learning experiences.
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Design Playbook for Accessible Learning
A guide for creating inclusive learning experiences that focus on accessibility from the start.
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Our Latest White Papers
A well-designed student orientation can serve as a crucial cornerstone for online learning experiences, empowering students to navigate the digital space, build connections, and ultimately thrive in their academic journeys.
This paper offers guidance on key components that should be included in online student orientations. The goal is to assist institutions in creating engaging and informative online orientations that facilitate a smooth introduction for students into their academic programs.
Assessment is a critical part of any learning experience. But designing assessments involves balancing a variety of factors, which can be especially challenging for open online courses.
At edX, we’ve developed three simple rules of thumb for balancing rigor and accessibility in open online learning.
This short paper includes:
The three rules we use to guide our assessment strategy in open online learning at edX
Key determinants (subject matter, program format, learning outcomes) that shape how the rules should be applied
Online education programs have revolutionized the way students access learning materials, but incorporating immersions -- intensive, face-to-face learning experiences -- can add a crucial dimension to the learning experience.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Reasons to include immersions in your learning epxerience
Key features of immersions in the current digital education landscape
Strategies for integrating remote and capstone experiences within immersions
The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) tools has prompted a significant reevaluation of traditional educational paradigms. While initial concerns focused on plagiarism, this resource shifts the focus to how educators can proactively adapt their practices to maintain academic integrity in an AI-integrated environment. We explore key considerations and practical strategies to leverage AI for critical thinking, ethical technology use, and student preparedness in what is becoming the post-plagiarism era.
The Role of Teaching Assistants in Online Education
Teaching assistants (often referred to as TAs) are common in higher education to support lead instructors with their teaching responsibilities. They have existed long before contemporary technological advances in education to support tasks such as research, small-group or “discussion section” instruction, grading, and administrative tasks. When it comes to teaching online, there are many opportunities for teaching assistants to support lead instructors and their students. However, since the role of TAs varies widely across different institutions, what parts of online teaching are TAs best suited to support? And, given TAs’ additional ancillary roles, what tasks should they be doing?
This white paper covers the following areas:
A brief overview of the roles that higher education teaching assistants play in the United States and the world, with a focus on online learning environments
Considerations for how teaching assistants can support the process of teaching and learning online
The term "evergreen" is derived from the evergreen tree, which maintains its green foliage throughout the year, regardless of the changing seasons. Similarly, evergreen content remains relevant, informative, and applicable, regardless of the passage of time. Evergreen content remains relevant and valuable to learners over an extended period (e.g., 2-4 years) with minimal maintenance.
This white paper covers the following areas:
What is Evergreen Content?
How can Evergreen Content Benefit an Online Course?
What are Common Concerns about Designing Evergreen Content?
What Learning Experiences are Most Conducive to Evergreen?
What are Lessons Learned and Top 10 Tips?
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the proliferation of public internet access led to a corresponding rise in online learning offerings. Educators subsequently recognized the need to determine what kinds of practices led to meaningful teaching and learning experiences in these new virtual spaces. To address this gap, a group of Canadian researchers developed the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework – an empirical structure for measuring “the elements that are crucial prerequisites for a successful higher educational experience” in e-learning environments.
This white paper covers the following areas:
An Overview of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Framework
Complementary Frameworks
Use Cases that Highlight CoI in Practice
Companies are struggling to fill certain positions due to a skill gap created by the rapid growth of cloud computing. Educational institutions are responding to this challenge by offering professional certifications, courses, and degrees in cloud computing. This competitive analysis focuses on the dynamic curricular landscape associated with cloud computing, and offers recommendations on how best to structure and position digital learning in this space.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Curricular goals and trends in cloud computing
The student experience
Focal knowledge and skill areas
This paper examines the evolving landscape of AI education, focusing on the diverse range of program types, from short courses to advanced degrees, that cater to various professional and academic needs. It discusses how these programs are increasingly emphasizing interdisciplinary integration, hands-on learning experiences, and industry alignment to ensure that students are prepared for real-world applications of AI. Additionally, the paper highlights emerging topics like AI ethics, quantum computing, and sustainable AI practices, illustrating how educational institutions are adapting their curricula to meet the growing demand for specialized AI skills across different sectors.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Diverse AI Education Programs
Emerging Trends and Topics
Industry Collaboration
Proctoring involves monitoring learners while they complete important assessments within a learning experience, usually with the goal of deterring or catching cheating. With the rise of digital learning, online proctoring has become common. However, digital proctoring can have a variety of negative impacts on the learning experience, even when thoughtfully executed. We recommend finding alternatives to online proctoring wherever possible, and have also developed a set of best practices for digital proctoring when there is no alternative.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Benefits and (significant) drawbacks of online proctoring
Lists a variety of alternatives to proctoring that still promote academic integrity
Shares key recommendations for how best to implement digital proctoring when no alternative is possible.
This white paper, “Using Video to Enhance Online Learning” by 2U, Inc., addresses how effectively designed and implemented video can serve as a powerful tool in a variety of online learning settings.
This white paper covers a range of issues including:
Combining video with interactive elements
Maximizing learner impact & engagement
Promoting instructor presence
Every learner has a unique relationship to trauma: from individual crises, national upheavals, or global pandemics. Trauma’s immediate and longer lasting impacts can create specific challenges to learning. This guide incorporates research on trauma and learning science to provide best-practices for course design. When these practices are implemented, they support learning for all students.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Trauma and the brain
Key tips for creating inclusive, non-triggering learning experiences
Trauma-informed learning sequences to apply to your work
Many of our highest-potential learning experiences are anchored in a hybrid learning format: blending both asynchronous and synchronous (or live) learning sessions. Live learning sessions offer a critical format to foster a sense of community within a cohort of learners, to practice interpersonal or critical thinking skills with real-time feedback, and to create spaces for interactive learning activities such as case discussions, role plays, or simulations.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Overview of best practices for designing synchronous learning
Scalable, subject-specific templates for different live session activities
Capstones are summative learning experiences, serving to integrate skills, knowledge, and attitudes from across a collection of learning activities. This white paper was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many such learning experiences needed to be conducted virtually to protect learner safety.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Best practices for capstones in general
Tips and insights from across the 2U / edX portfolio on how best to conduct capstones virtually
Examples and templates to guide your approach
In any learning experience, it's critical to accurately and transparently measure student learning attainment: how deeply and accurately learners have built the skills, knowledge, and perspectives that form the learning outcomes. In many cases, it can also be valuable to evaluate learner participation. How (and why) participation can be measured vary depending on learning experience format (asynchronous, synchronous, or hybrid); credential format; learning outcomes; and other defining factors.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Opportunities and pitfalls in measuring learner participation
Best practices for measuring learner participation in asynchronous and synchronous learning
When NOT to evaluate learner participation, but instead focus on other aspects of learning attainment
Part of a series of short papers focused on redesigning residential learning experiences for a hybrid digital format, this overview covers best practices for technical coursework: coding, programming, and other computer science or engineering disciplines. This resource was originally created to support instructional continuity for partners new to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Tactics for incremental learning and project-based instruction in a distributed classroom
Learning sequences tailored to this instructional context and a hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) digital teaching approach
Part of a series of short papers focused on redesigning residential learning experiences for a hybrid digital format, this overview covers best practices for quantitative coursework: statistics, calculus, and other undergraduate and graduate math skills. This resource was originally created to support instructional continuity for partners new to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Strategies for carefully scaffolding quantitative skills development, leveraging asynchronous feedback to promote even skill development within a mixed classroom environment
Learning sequences tailored to this instructional context and a hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) digital teaching approach
Part of a series of short papers focused on redesigning residential learning experiences for a hybrid digital format, this overview covers best practices for studio art instruction. This resource was originally created to support instructional continuity for partners new to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Tips for creating a learning environment where tactile skill-building, creative expression, and ongoing formative feedback are paramount
Learning sequences tailored to this instructional context and a hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) digital teaching approach
Part of a series of short papers focused on redesigning residential learning experiences for a hybrid digital format, this overview covers best practices for foreign language instruction. This resource was originally created to support instructional continuity for partners new to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Strategies for fostering an inclusive, open, and expressive learning environment
Learning sequences tailored to this instructional context and a hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) digital teaching approach
Part of a series of short papers focused on redesigning residential learning experiences for a hybrid digital format, this overview covers best practices for foreign language instruction. This resource was originally created to support instructional continuity for partners new to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This white paper covers the following areas:
Strategies for fostering an inclusive, open, and expressive learning environment
Learning sequences tailored to this instructional context and a hybrid (synchronous and asynchronous) digital teaching approach
“Navigating Change: A Resource for Education Content Sustainability” provides a strategic approach to manage the applicability and longevity of educational content. It highlights the importance of maintaining current and effective learning materials, differentiating between static subjects, like history and math, and dynamic fields, such as technology and medicine, which require frequent updates. The guide examines the impact of technological innovations, regulatory changes, and industry trends on content sustainability. It provides strategies like regular audits, modular design, expert collaboration, and feedback loops to maintain content impact. Additionally, it emphasizes balancing short- and long-term content planning, utilizing data analytics, and accounting for varied lifespans of educational elements. This guide empowers educators to keep content relevant and impactful in a rapidly changing educational landscape.
This brief covers the following areas:
Differentiating static and dynamic content needs
Strategies for maintaining content relevance
Balancing short- and long-term planning
Leveraging data analytics for insights
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