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11 June 2002, Singapore
The Changing face of the Classroom |
In today’s age, educators know that the traditional lecture is not the only way to learn. The Internet is destroying the traditional educational delivery system of an instructor speaking, lecturing or teaching in front of one or more learners. The Internet represents the biggest technological aid helping people to learn in 500 years, according to many educators (Thieme, 1996).
Our busy schedules are now a mainstay of today’s lifestyles. To cope with the increasing need for self-improvement, increasing numbers of students are accessing educational opportunities outside the traditional classroom. One such trend is e-learning, that is, accessing information and communicating with online instructors through the Internet. An online classroom can be a dynamic learning environment that fosters the creation of global communities of learners. The possibilities for communication and collaboration among learners from around the world make for a very engaging learning experience. Let’s examine the potential of this new form of education to promote global communities of learners.
Based on studies by research companies, they predict that in this century, e-learning will constitute 50% of all learning and education. The rapid rise of learning on the Internet will occur not because it is more convenient, cheaper, or faster, but because cognitive learning on the Internet is better than learning in-person.
Recent research reported in the Washington Post cites studies showing that e-learning is equally as effective as learning in-person. And note that points to "cognitive learning," not all learning. It is still very early in the development of e-learning. But the outlines of the potential of e-learning are already showing.
E-learning is the term most often used to describe learning that takes place over the Internet. Generally the learner connects to the learning site on the Internet where they have access to the course materials and make contact with the instructor and other learners who are taking the course. Learners navigate through the course materials, which present a series of links to a web of related materials. The course materials may take the form of text pages, graphics, audio, or video links. Communication between the learner and the instructor and between learners takes on many forms. This can comprise of email, an online bulletin board, messaging program, or in a chat room. Assignments are submitted by uploading to the web site or sent via email.
As a result, e-learning allows more focus to be put on the learner as it is mainly learner-centric. With this mode of learning, the learner can bring up issues to the instructor who is only an email, discussion room or chat room away.
One such e-learning lifelong service provider is PurpleTrain.com where the use of the web has enriched the learning process. PurpleTrain.com has developed its own Learning Management Centre (LMS) known as Bluefin that boasts of an exciting new visual interface sporting new colours and user-friendly features for everyone.
Through Bluefin, PurpleTrain ensures that students get a smooth and friendly e-learning environment. They can login through a centralised login system, that will bring them to a personalised page reflecting the various course modules in which they are enrolled. From there, students can select the class and enter the virtual environment through the newly-designed feature icons.
Online interaction tools such as the chat and discussion rooms have also been upgraded, to carry a new cool look, with very user-friendly functions and interfaces.
Besides the current features, the new Learning Management Centre provides an acknowledgement of submission of assignments, through which students can check if their assignments were safely uploaded. Also the course contents will also have a new refreshing and clean look, with drop-down lists for easy selection of subject topics for each module.
Speed-wise, students are able to enjoy an ultra-smooth online session on PurpleTrain, up to almost 5 times the previous speed. So navigation within and through the various interaction tools on PurpleTrain will happen in the blink of an eye!
At PurpleTrain.com, students can choose from an assortment of courses ranging from diploma level to even doctorate level to pursue. Online collaboration is alive and well on this platform through the use of discussion rooms and chat sessions. This is where a hive of online activity takes place with questions and answers flowing back and forth via these two modes.
Often online facilitators will suggest web links for students to explore. These allow the learner to delve into more detail on the topics of interest. An added advantage is that links to information on the Internet from sites around the world may offer perspectives different from the local viewpoint.
The potential of communication and collaboration to form global communities is now here. The ability of an online classroom to foster communication and collaboration is one of the greatest benefits to online learning. Indeed, it should be the heart and soul of an online course.
To sum it all up, the fact that e-learning is here to stay and the early adopters who embrace this technology will stand to benefit. There is no running away from the sweeping new wave that is pervading all of us who believe in lifelong learning in today’s context.
References
Thieme, Richard (1996), in a presentation at the Metcom conference, Chicago, IL.
About Informatics Group
The Informatics Group, established in 1983, is a multinational corporation providing training and educational services in information technology and business management. Through its international franchising program and strategic acquisitions, Informatics presently has a global network of more than 400 centres spanning 36 countries.
The company presently offers five franchise products: Informatics Computer School, Thames Business School, CAL Computer Training Centre, Cambridge Child Development Centre and RACC. For more information, please visit http://www.informaticsgroup.com.
About PurpleTrain.com
PurpleTrain.com is the e-learning service provider which offers a one-stop service for business and IT education programmes, corporate training courses and education-related services. By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com offers companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective online training solution. Over 1000 online courses are available, offering PhDs, masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates in business and IT programmes. Its e-community now stands at over 55,000 users.
PurpleTrain.com is a 100%-owned venture of Informatics Holdings Limited, a leading training and education provider listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
For more information, please contact :
Andrew Yap
Marketing & PR Manager
PurpleTrain.com
Email : pr@purpletrain.com
Website : www.purpletrain.com
www.informaticsgroup.com
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All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of
their respective owners. Certain of the statements in this press release
are forward-looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The actual results may differ from those described or contemplated.
Copyright © 2002. All Rights Reserved. PurpleTrain.com Pte Ltd.
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