| For most of us, education was a class-room filled | | | | we want to study in our underwear at 2 am, |
| with other students of unequal ability, a low level | | | | then we have no restriction. |
| of teacher attention (she/he had 30+ other | | | | We are not bound by the schedule of a |
| students to attend to), and generally not much | | | | class-room lesson in which we must dress |
| opportunity for individualized initiative. To make it | | | | appropriately, get to the location on time, and do |
| worse, our study efforts were recognized by our | | | | what the teacher believes is best for the class |
| ability on exam day to answer standardised | | | | average. |
| questions on a piece of paper, and from that we | | | | On Line, we can study as quickly or as slowly as |
| were catagorized for the rest of our lives. | | | | we need- we don't have to wait for the slow |
| That has now changed. The Internet is the | | | | students to catch up, and we don't ever feel |
| greatest revolution in Education since the pencil | | | | when we don't understand something and need |
| was invented, and it is changing the way people | | | | extra time, that we are holding up the class |
| learn, and affording an amazing array of | | | | progress. And we can take break when we want. |
| opportunities to gain a practical education that | | | | Variety - On line we can access a huge variety of |
| really IS of some use in the real world, instead of | | | | classes applicable to our wants- We can take up a |
| a certificate that probably has little relevance to | | | | foreign language, learn how to cook, learn how to |
| our real life skills. | | | | study more efficiently, how to use a computer to |
| Never before have people seeking to better their | | | | greater effect, how to improve our singing, learn |
| prospects of employment, enjoyment and general | | | | how to read Tarot cards, do massage, and so |
| happiness had such a choice, and that choice is | | | | many more life enhancing things. Can you imagine |
| ever expanding as the Internet becomes more | | | | asking your local College to provide a course in |
| widely accepted in education delivery. | | | | Aquaculture Bioengineering Sustenance because |
| Not only can we now study traditional subjects | | | | you want to know what nutrients to give your |
| "On Line", but there is an amazing array of "out | | | | Vietnamese Basa fish stock ? |
| of the mainstream" subjects we can pursue that | | | | Try before you commit - Most courses allow a |
| will enrich our lives and make us a more "rounded" | | | | "try for free" period before you pay. This is |
| person, with a wide variety of interests. | | | | important because if you start and realize this is |
| 10 years ago, who would ever have dreamt of | | | | not what you wanted, then you can gracefully |
| going to a computer to learn how to control their | | | | withdraw. Contact the teacher- With a lot of |
| bad dog's behaviour - or to learn how to make | | | | courses offered on line, there is a facility to e-mail |
| origami figures, to bake a cake, to control their | | | | or interface with the teacher if we have a |
| child's temper tantrums, or to learn how to play | | | | confounding problem. Therefore there IS a |
| guitar? | | | | personal touch available when we need it. |
| Today, these "life style" subjects are available, as | | | | Are there disadvantages? |
| are so many others that can add to our quality of | | | | Yes of course there are: There will always be |
| life, as well as the more traditional study | | | | some subjects where direction from a teacher will |
| subjects-English, Maths, Biology, History, and even | | | | be required in real time. For example, I would not |
| preparation courses for public exams such as | | | | like to trust my brain surgery to anyone who got |
| GMAT, SAT, even advice on how to get | | | | an "on Line" Medical education. Nor would I trust |
| scholarships to pay for College and University | | | | an "on line" drivers licence - so whilst On Line |
| Education. So what is the attraction of doing | | | | education can provide a lot of subjects, and |
| courses on line? | | | | support for others, there will always be a place |
| There are many positives-including, but not limited | | | | for the real life teacher or instructor. |
| to: | | | | In conclusion, when we want to improve our life, |
| Price - Because most on line courses are already | | | | or our qualifications, or just our interests, the |
| developed, there is no teacher to pay, as the | | | | most affordable place to look, the place where |
| teacher we see is a recording, and the materials | | | | there is a seemingly endless variety of life |
| have already been developed, so we are viewing | | | | enhancing learning opportunities, with instant |
| a copy of the original-therefore the price can be | | | | delivery, is our own computer. Open Internet |
| kept relatively low. | | | | Explorer and do what its name suggests. Explore |
| Flexibility - We can study as often as we want- | | | | the internet- You will be surprised by the variety |
| we are not dictated to by class schedules, so if | | | | you can find. |