Revolutionizing Learning: The Internet Now Offers a High-Quality Education

Have you taken an online course? If the answer is no, chances are you will within a year. By early 2008, Eduventures predicts nearly one in 10 college students will be enrolled in an online degree program. The Internet is revolutionizing the education world, making a high-quality education much more accessible. So how does it work? It's actually much easier than you may think.

What is e-learning

e-Learning is a way for you to get an education at home, the library or your office. e-Learning uses technology networks, including the Internet, to connect you with other students and instructors to get a high-quality education. You can take online classes individually (guided or instructed by a computer) or as part of a class.

"If you've taken an online tutorial you've already taken one online class," said Andrew Gansler, CEO of eLearners.com. "Online classes are simple to start and allow you to learn when the time is most convenient for you." More and more students are turning to online courses because of this convenience. A Sloan Consortium report shows more than 3.2 million students took an online course in 2005, that's up 2.3 million from the previous year.

How Online Classes Work

Some online classes are conducted through the Internet at a set time with other students, other classes are individualized. e-Learning uses a wide range of technologies and media. Many online learning courses use streaming audio and/or video to deliver lessons. e-Learning also uses many interactive tools including teleconferencing, videoconferencing and shared whiteboards, which allow students to write on the same digital whiteboard.