Singapore, 10 October 2003

PurpleTrain Unravels the Myths of e-Learning!

Like it or not, not everyone is fully comfortable with the concept of e-Learning despite its abundant advantages. PurpleTrain has taken steps to address these misconceptions to offer you further reassurance.

Some common misconceptions of e-Learning include:

Myth 1: "E-Learning service providers are fly-by-night set-ups"
Truth: While we can't speak for other service providers, PurpleTrain falls under the jurisdiction of the e-Learning Academy of Informatics Holdings Limited. The e-Learning Academy is chaired by Honorary Chairman Dr Jonathan Britt, Head of Technology Extended Campus, University of Portsmouth. Under Dr Britt's guidance, the programme development team charts out long term strategic plans to ensure that PurpleTrain achieves academic excellence. Thus only programmes of exceptional quality are delivered via PurpleTrain.

Myth 2: "E-Learning courses are not recognised"
Truth: PurpleTrain is committed to providing online courses that are subjected to the highest standards of academic governance. PurpleTrain courses are either validated or awarded by world-class Universities or internationally recognized awarding bodies including NCC Education, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate or Informatics Academy.

PurpleTrain.com is the e-Learning service provider of Informatics Holdings Limited, an established training and education provider since 1983. PurpleTrain is also Asia's first and leading e-Learning service provider, the biggest outside the United States.

Myth 3: "Students are left to struggle on their own"
Truth: At PurpleTrain, we have close relationships with our students, thanks to our operational team that works behind the scenes, offering round the clock administrative, technical, operational and counseling support to the students. Students may choose to request for assistance electronically through email or through the 24-hour Helpdesk at 9362 9292.

We at PurpleTrain understand that a big percentage of our students are busy working adults whose multiple roles may possibly compromise on their commitment to their continuing education. These students will appreciate our operations staff giving them reminder emails, nudging them to participate more during classes so as to harness the full benefit of online classes.

Myth 4: "There are a limited number of courses available"
Truth: PurpleTrain offers a spectrum of over 700 courses from Diploma to Bachelor to Masters degree programmes as well as professional courses in Business or IT skills. Corporate users will find up-to-date professional courses to upgrade their skills and competencies and lifelong learners will find themselves pampered with choice with the variety of programmes offered through University partners from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Myth 5: "There is very little interaction between students and facilitators"
Truth: Our experienced facilitators are not only academically qualified and bring with them substantial industry experience, they are also trained in e-facilitation. So they will take proactive measures to encourage active student participation through emails, discussion forums and net chats. They also go the extra mile to make constant checks on students to ensure that they have understood the lessons.

Myth 6: "E-Learning is just spoon-feeding"
Truth: Students are given assignments which require them to draw upon the various concepts learnt as well as the invaluable knowledge gleaned through discussions with their peers. PurpleTrain facilitators take on the role as coaches to guide students and offer expert advice rather than furnish them with standard answers.

Myth 7: "E-Learning provides an easy way for students to cheat"
Truth: PurpleTrain takes a serious view of cheating and plagiarism attempts. Through students' input in the discussion forums, our facilitators are trained to pick out individual students' comprehension level and style of writing and match that of the assignments submitted by them. Our facilitators are also equipped with software that is able to detect any forms of plagiarism in assignments.

Online assessments also offer facilitators opportunities of regular reviews of students' progress. Also in the pipeline is the use of 'portfolio assessment' which requires students to submit progressive reports of their projects to facilitators.

Myth 8: "E-Learning is troublesome"
Truth: Many of our students are busy working executives and mobile workers who need to make frequent overseas travels. We even have the privilege of meeting the needs of students with special needs, such as those who are hearing impaired or physically disabled, or live in remote places. So e-Learning actually gives students the flexibility of 'anytime, anywhere' learning - all they need is access to the Internet. While most cybercampus students 'attend' classes through the computer, e-Learning is made possible through any electronic device that allows Internet access. Imagine interacting with fellow students or posting up threads at discussion boards through your WAP-enabled mobile devices while relaxing over a coffee break. Troublesome? You tell us.

Myth 9: "It is impossible to conduct proper examinations for cybercampus students"
Truth: While there are some courses that are purely coursework-based, students will find that most courses have a certain percentage of assessments in the form of examinations. Examinations are proctored at centres readily accessible to students irregardless of where they are in the world.

Myth 10: "Students need broadband high-speed internet connections to do e-Learning"
Truth: We have students from all over the world, some as far as countries in the African and European continents. Although it is an added advantage to have broadband and high speed internet connections, students who have basic dial-up connections can still enjoy the benefits of e-Learning. The e-Learning Academy encourages students to derive their knowledge from various sources, including essential textbooks, web resources, e-Libraries, as well as collective knowledge through the international community of learners.

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 700 online courses are available, ranging from Master and Bachelor degree programmes, to diplomas and certificates in business and IT programmes. 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 and licensing programmes and strategic acquisitions, Informatics presently has a global network of more than 603 centers 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 :

Adora Tan
Executive – PR and Marketing
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.