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Singapore, 9 May 2003
Today, with e-learning that offers online courses and degrees accessible from anywhere with a computer and a modem - you are now faced with the problem of too many choices. Suddenly, getting ahead in life is a lot easier and a whole lot more complicated. It's easier because the Internet has kicked learning out of the classroom and into cyberspace, making education available anywhere, anytime or even "just in time." But the vastness of offerings only makes e-learning choices more complicated. For anyone thinking of jumping into this new education world, the questions present themselves quickly - how to find the right courses or the appropriate programs - and how to find quality. Throughout the history of distance education, critics have questioned whether students could really be taught well from far away. Those concerns have been revived with online education. Detractors worry that online courses sacrifice intellectual sophistication for convenience and that they foster isolation among students. Despite such worries, online education is here to stay. For some students, it's their only option. A good case in point is Erik Atchison, an e-learning student with PurpleTrain. He is an oil rig worker who spends most of his time offshore. Without regular "office-hours", it is impossible for Erik to attend any form of scheduled taught classes to further his education. E-learning was the only option available to him. Studies indicate that online learning can be effective. Thomas Russell of North Carolina State University reviewed research on all types of distance learning and concluded that there was "no significant difference" between inside- and outside-classroom education. The Alfred P Sloan Foundation, which funds the development of university online courses, came to the same conclusion. Says program director Frank Mayadas, "If the same professor is offering the same course and has offered it online and on campus, the results are equivalent and even tend to favour off-campus learning." A high degree of interactivity with the instructor and with other students is important. At PurpleTrain, this is ensured by "quality control" administrators who keep track of instructors' (aka facilitators) to ensure that they respond to students' questions within 24 hours. The system also keeps track of students' frequency in logging in, participation in chat sessions and discussion threads as well as the submission of their assignments. Students who thrive on discussion and interaction with peers should consider programs that emphasize communication among instructor, student, and classmates. Indeed, some proponents of online education argue that its ability to foster thoughtful discussion-through E-mail, chat rooms, and discussion boards-may be the technology's greatest strength. Group communication can be either synchronous (students meet at a specific time online for discussions aka chats) or asynchronous (students can "attend" class to read notes or participate in conversations, aka discussion threads, anytime they please). At PurpleTrain both methods are used to encourage maximum interaction amongst students as well as between students and instructors. This is important as courses with low interaction tend to have high dropout rates. As with on-campus education, students need to ensure that they will have
enough institutional support to finish their degrees. People take it for
granted on a campus that they can ask someone for help. At PurpleTrain,
students are supported by a dedicated team of back office staff who takes
care of everything from registration to exams. There is even a 24-hour
Helpdesk Hotline which students can call for any form of assistance. ABOUT PURPLETRAIN.COM By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com offers companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective on-line training solution. Over 700 on-line courses are available, offering masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates in business and IT programs. Our online learning community now stands at over 67,000 users. PurpleTrain.com is a 100%-owned venture of Informatics Holdings Limited, a leading training and education provider listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Informatics Holdings Limited is a world class institute for quality lifelong learning services and made the ranking among Forbes Global's 200 Best Small Companies in the world. 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 programme and strategic acquisitions, Informatics presently has a global network of more than 550 centres spanning over 45 countries. The company presently offers six franchise products: Informatics Computer School, Thames Business School, Informatics Professional Development Centre, CAL Computer Training Centre, Cambridge Child Development Centre and RACC. For more information, please visit http://www.informaticsgroup.com. For more information, please contact : Boey Taik Boon 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. |
A
decade ago, if you wanted to further your education and keep your job
and continue to live in the same house and send your children to the same
school, your only choices were the universities within commuting distance.