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Singapore, 9 July 2002
Online education's effect on universities |
E-learning's greatest impact on university education (and learning in general) is to encourage experimentation with bold new approaches to content creation and delivery, as standalone new offerings and, most important, as an integral part of university education. There are some classes that could be appropriate for pure E-learning and no classroom interaction.
Ultimately, E-learning's profit potential won't lead to the downfall of universities' education quality. The university culture has never been about profit, and most universities will continue to place the quality of education and research far above financial returns. If universities don't apply that same approach to online education, they'll be in for a struggle. That's because any E-learning program that does not deliver high quality will not be around long. Customers can "walk" too easily in the online environment.
Yet, there is not necessarily a trade-off between efficient, profitable programs and quality. The greater challenge for universities is not economic pressures, but lack of competencies in using these new online channels. Some quality has suffered as brilliant teachers in the classroom have struggled to translate their courses into E-learning--too often, educators have simply taken existing course material and posted it online.
That’s why PurpleTrain.com does not compromise in the content department by the ‘cut and paste’ method. Course content is actually created for the online class rather than adapted from a taught class format. In this way, the content caters exclusively to the online students and they are accessing the information that was meant for online instruction. PurpleTrain.com also offers a wide range of programmes from Diploma to Doctorate levels in IT and Business specializations. Depending on the student’s desire and capability, lifelong education is indeed a viable possibility through e-learning.
There is one aspect of E-learning that's superior to classroom instruction: adaptability. Knowledge changes so quickly, and you cannot go back and earn a degree every time it shifts. There is no better way to stay current than with an online learning community--this includes Web-based courses as well as online discussion groups. No university course or textbook can be updated as quickly as online educational resources. That's why the learning community for PurpleTrain.com meets up regularly via the online discussion rooms and chat rooms to discuss any pertinent issues.
In addition, E-learning also can help students master critical Web skills to enhance their education: using search engines effectively, joining appropriate virtual communities, and learning how to cross-validate information by evaluating sources online.
E-learning also has benefits on a broader, sociological level. While the digital divide is a major problem facing all societies, the ability to use multimedia and self-paced learning anytime, anyplace, is the solution. Access to the Web won't be an issue. Right now, even some of the poorest villages in China are looking at providing Net access in schools. As an example, even the young can benefit from Web-based learning. Kids in the most disadvantaged schools access to the best educators in the world. It can also expose students to diverse parts of the world when they can't even afford to leave their neighbourhoods.
However, the most important aspect of E-learning is not the access to information, but the ability to customize learning approaches to match students' learning styles--pacing the learning approach, speed, and depth to reflect students' prior knowledge, level of comprehension, and areas of interest. Traditional educational approaches have failed to solve the problem of functional illiteracy, but E-learning has the potential to address that by putting the right educational resources in the hands of more people.
To find out more about the variety of e-learning courses available, feel free to drop by at PurpleTrain Course Catalogue or send your email request to enquiry@purpletrain.com
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 450 centres spanning 42 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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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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