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Singapore, 14 May 2003
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Be
an Effective e-Learner
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 For
most e-learners (and those who are contemplating e-learning), it is or
will be the first time you have ever experienced such a method of study.
One of your main concerns would definitely be - How
to make the best of it when you have never done it before?
Although flexibility and self-paced study are the key attractions of
e-learning, you will still need self-motivation and personal tenacity
to get the most out of it. You may feel more in control of your learning,
but effective time-management is still a must. It's up to you to start,
finish and excel in your e-Learning experience.
Here are some tips to help you take advantage of all that e-learning
has to offer.
Allocate consistent study time.
It is very important to commit to a consistent study
schedule. It need not be a specific time of the day, everyday, since that
would defeat the purpose and benefit of asynchronous e-learning but you
should at least maintain a certain number of hours a week devoted to study.
Do not allow yourself to be distracted during the time that you have set
aside. Because you are online, it is very easy to be tempted away from
your studies by recreational surfing, IRCs, social emailing or the millions
of other trivial pursuits available on the web. All it takes is a click
of the mouse and you have switched from learning to playing.
Set realistic goals.
Take time to consider your goals. Set learning objectives
for yourself that will challenge you but that you can realistically accomplish.
Because of its nature of self-paced study, some students may be overly
ambitious and eager to complete their courses in the shortest possible
time. However, do remember that you probably have other important commitments
on your time, such as your day job - as most e-learners do. You will not
get the most out of your e-learning experience if it is forced into a
fervent rush towards completion.
Participate actively online.
There's no question that the more you put into your
e-learning experience, the more you'll get out of it. Become an "active"
e-learner, enthusiastically participating in all that e-learning has to
offer. For instance, you may return to the course regularly for reviews
and refreshers, particularly as new on-the-job challenges arise. E-learning
is perfect for that because, as long as you're at your computer, school
is always in session.
Take advantage of peer e-learning.
Peer-to-peer learning is one of the most powerful study techniques. E-learning
courses offer the opportunity for real-time collaboration within a community.
It's well worth your time to utilise this feature. For instance, you can
participate in chat sessions to share ideas and learn from the experience
of others in synchronous mode. For asynchronous participation, discussion
threads allow students to post their views and opinions in a particular
subject matter as and when they login at their own convenience.
Accommodate yourself.
In self-paced e-learning, there is no teacher setting
the schedule. If you study for a long period of time, be sure to take
frequent breaks. In fact, most effective learning takes place in 20- to
30-minute chunks. If you study for longer than that, you will not be fresh
enough to absorb and retain new knowledge.
Reflect on what you have learned.
After breaks, and when you complete the course,
try to recall what you have learned. Mentally apply new concepts to your
work situation, actively seeking specific, real-life situations that could
benefit from your new knowledge.
Use all available resources.
E-learning is made even more relevant through the
inclusion of online resources. Many courses offer a variety of online
tools. Take advantage of suggestions for additional reading or practice
that will help you maintain your new skills.
Share what you have learned.
To better retain your new knowledge and skills,
share what you have learned with your manager and co-workers. You can
also participate in chat rooms or discussion lists on the topics you studied
and share your ideas with the community. Sharing maximises your learning
experience and provides tangible benefits to those around you. This mindset
can improve your image with current employers and make you more marketable
to prospective ones. With the dawn of e-learning, studying can now be
more flexible, personalised, and fun. To make e-learning effective, however,
you must see yourself as the person in charge of product development.
The product, of course, is yourself.
ABOUT PURPLETRAIN.COM
PurpleTrain.com is the e-learning service provider which offers a one-stop
service for business and IT education programs, 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 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 lifelong learning services in information technology and business
management. Through its international franchising program and strategic
acquisitions, Informatics presently has a global network of more than
583 centres spanning more than 47 countries. The company presently offers
the following products: Informatics Institute, Thames Business School,
Informatics Professional Development Centre, CAL Learning Centre, Cambridge
Child Development Centre, RACC, NCC licensing and PurpleTrain.com licensing.
For more information, please visit http://www.informaticsgroup.com
For more information, please contact :
Boey Taik Boon
PR/Marketing Manager
PurpleTrain.com
DID : (65) 6568 0810
Fax : (65) 6569 7060
Email : pr@purpletrain.com
Website : www.purpletrain.com
www.informaticsgroup.com
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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