| The appeal of an online education through distance | | | | learning thus enabling a student to access information |
| learning as an educational alternative is ever | | | | anywhere and at anytime. The numerous features |
| increasing. “Its presence will continue to | | | | and benefits of an Online Education and E-Learning will |
| grow”, say curriculum directors, who expect | | | | play a major role in post secondary career oriented |
| that by 2010 nearly a fifth of students will be taking | | | | education. |
| some of their career training coursework through | | | | • E-learning is self-paced and gives students a |
| online education or E-learning at an online university or | | | | chance to speed up or slow down as necessary |
| college. | | | | • Geographical barriers are eliminated, opening up |
| Technological advances in medicine, aerospace, | | | | broader education options |
| agriculture, the environment, communications and | | | | • 24/7 accessibility makes distance learning easy |
| education permeate the world we live in. We have | | | | and allows a greater number of people to attend |
| new drugs and vaccines, new ways to strengthen | | | | classes |
| the immune system, the International Space Station, | | | | • Travel time and associated costs (parking, fuel, |
| alternative crop and livestock systems, renewable | | | | vehicle maintenance) are reduced |
| energy sources, personalized information technology | | | | • Online education fosters greater student |
| and E-learning, online education and distance learning. | | | | interaction and collaboration |
| • With the introduction of $100 Laptops by MIT, | | | | • E-learning is self-directed, allowing students |
| E-learning will reach millions of children in developing | | | | more control over their learning process, leading up to |
| nations like Brazil, China, South Africa, Egypt and | | | | a 60% faster learning curve. |
| others. | | | | • Web-based products allow instructors to |
| Nicholas Negroponte, co-founder of the Media Lab at | | | | update lessons and materials across the entire |
| the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is | | | | network instantly. |
| working on a plan to distribute the laptops to | | | | • Develops knowledge of the Internet that will |
| schoolchildren. A goal of the project is to make the | | | | help learners throughout their careers |
| low-cost PC a grassroots movement like Linux or | | | | • Exposure to resources not commonly found in |
| Wikipedia. The laptops will have a 500MHz processor, | | | | standard classroom settings |
| 1GB of memory and an innovative dual-mode display | | | | Wireless technology has paved way for Mobile |
| that can be used in full-color mode, or in a | | | | Learning, where one can easily access learning |
| black-and-white sunlight-readable mode. Power for | | | | materials anywhere and at anytime. Instructional and |
| the new systems will be provided by electric current, | | | | communication techniques create an interactive online |
| batteries or by a windup crank attached to the side, | | | | education environment including case studies, |
| since many countries do not have power in remote | | | | demonstrations, role-playing, simulations, streamed |
| areas. The systems will be Wi-Fi and cell | | | | videos, online references, discussion groups, |
| phone-enabled and will include four USB ports for | | | | personalized coaching and mentoring, chat rooms, |
| connectivity. “The idea is simple. It’s an | | | | bulletin boards, tutorials, FAQ’s and wizards. |
| education project that will make online education a | | | | Collaborative education will play an important role in |
| simple reality.” | | | | developing future Online Education and E-learning |
| Research has predicted that in the future more | | | | strategies. Almost all Learning Management Systems |
| people will complete their studies at home as distance | | | | (LMS) conforming to E-learning standards offer |
| learning concepts continue to evolve. Over two million | | | | collaborative networks, enabling students from |
| students enroll for online university and online college | | | | remote areas to share knowledge and communicate |
| courses each year. Just as the world continues to | | | | ideas with fellow classmates from around the country |
| change so must the conditions in which we live and | | | | and the world. |
| learn. In a fast paced society we will see E-learning | | | | Virtual and Augmented learning will gradually replace |
| designed to accommodate busy students – | | | | existing scenarios thus giving a new dimension to |
| time flexible, geographically independent, competitive | | | | knowledge management. Certain concepts which are |
| cost and value and learner-centered. E-learning offers | | | | difficult to imagine or simulate can be implemented |
| both synchronous and asynchronous modes of | | | | using augmented learning. |