A Review of e-Learning in Canada: Rejoinder to Commentaries

Abrami et al. (this issue) provide a review of e-learning in Canada from 2000 onwards by synthesizing information drawn from multiple sources, not only primary research. In total, there were 726 documents included in our review: 235 views expressed in the public printed media (an expression of general public opinion); 131 views from trade/practitioner perspectives; 88 views of policymakers contained in public policy documents; 120 sources of evidence contained in reviews of research; and 152 sources of evidence contained in primary empirical studies. It is the authors' understanding that this is the first review of its kind to be as inclusive of sources. This is both the review's greatest strength, allowing the authors to determine whether consensus existed among myriad sources, and potentially its greatest weakness, as both the time for such a comprehensive review and the cost meant the authors sacrificed a degree of depth for an increase in breadth. In this rejoinder to the commentaries, they explore several issues: (1) the nature and importance of systematic reviews; (2) answering questions about what works and why; and (3) what is e-learning and what are its impacts.