Featured The Quality of Online Classes

I'd say, like any classroom experience (online or physically in a room), it all depends on the teacher as far as the rigor is concerned. I've done both and found them to be easy and challenging (both that is). I chalk it up to the teacher.

However, the format may enable rigor or discourage it. The mentality that online is easier perhaps prompts online teachers to step up their game thus giving the appearance that it is on par or even more rigorous than regular.

 

Can you provide a link(s) to these studies?

 

It has been discussed ad nauseum. But here it is again...
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/study-finds-that-online-education-beats-the-classroom/

 

For what it's worth, The Chronicle has, while endorsing online education in general, somewhat criticized the methodology and inherent limitations of the studies involved. Just my two cents. I, for one, am for online education, but I'm not willing to say the quality is necessarily better or worse.