With the emergence of the World Wide
Web, the possibility of using the Web as an educational tool has generated
much excitement and interest around the world. A number of Educators
have taken the challenge to build their own Web-based classrooms. However,
what exactly is e-learning? It is defined as "technology-enabled
distance learning" or online learning. It is an approach to learning
that does not normally require physical classroom attendance. The Internet
is the main mechanism used to deliver the learning experience. It provides
an effective medium for eLearners and coaches to meet and interact.
In short, It is:
- Learning without
boundary
- Combination of Information
Technology and Education
- Flexible learning that caters to
different lifestyles and schedules
- An increasing global
phenomenon
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Learning without
boundary
The World Wide Web has the great potential to
be used both as a medium for teaching and learning. Educators and
Learners can use it as a channel to provide and access information to a
broader range of students. Communication through the World Web Web can
be synchronous or asynchronous. The World Wide Web also encourages
people to be more active in their course work through various study
activities and assessment methods.
Combination of
Information Technology and education
e-learning uses the WWW to deliver
information anytime, anywhere. The World Wide Web is an inescapable
aspect of conducting business in the New Economy. Today, businesses run
on knowledge, and learning turns information into this knowledge.
Learners are thereby required to obtain these information through
various means, and the Internet facilitates them to obtain and be
trained using this medium.
Flexible learning
that caters to different lifestyles and schedules
On-line distance education is the fastest growing segment of
higher education today. With increasing tight demands on work schedules,
and the importance of continuing education to facilitate advancing in
the workplace, the ability to take courses that fits different
lifestyles are attracting unprecedented influx of On-line distance
education learners across the globe.
An increasing
global phenomenon
With
the emergence of the Information Society, the Internet and WWW together
have become a global phenomenon which features:
- Ease of Publishing and
Maintenance
- Consistency of
Interface
- Seamless Access
- A Highly Interactive
Environment
- Flexibility in
Space/Time
- A Distributed, Non-hierarchical
System
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On-line
Learning
Computer-based training over a network. As intranets and the
Internet become ubiquitous, this is becoming the predominant form of
technology-based training.
-
Web-Based
Training
A term used to describe On-line learning in
which the student uses a browser for viewing and navigating
server-based and HTML formatted information for learning.
- According to a 1999 study by
Framingham, a Massachusetts-based International Data Corporation
(IDC), the On-line learning market is currently generating US$600
million in annual receipts and will exceed US$10 billion by
2002.
The virtual classroom
is an electronic meeting place of Learners and Educators for the purpose
of learning and teaching ?an educational experience of real people in a
virtual dimension. In the virtual class, the activities of traditional
educational institutions are performed mostly without the movement of
physical objects (e.g. getting Learners and Educators into a physical
venue).
A virtual classroom
contains On-line hypermedia courses as well as elements to support
On-line Learners:
- Communication structures
among Learners as well as between Learners and Educators.
- Tracking of Learner抯
progress by Educators.
- Enrolment and Class
Management for On-line courses.
- Navigational paths
and other facilities for different learning styles.
- Ability to publish
directly on the Web from within the virtual classroom.
