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Online World Adds a New Dimension (Part I)

 

It may seem like a 1990s concept, but there is nothing new about distance learning. Harold Wilson, the UK prime minister pioneered the ‘University of the Air’ – later to become the Open University – in the 1960s to provide remote learning for degree courses. Since then, audio tape, video tape and CD-Rom have enhanced the original paper and book materials to make distance learning far more widespread.

Computer networks – specially Internet and intranet technology – have recently added an online dimension to distance learning. While there are still some reservations about distance learning over the Internet – particularly about its effectiveness and the level of supervision – there is a clear trend towards increased use of the technology.

‘I think there are three distinct waves evident in the progress of distance learning,’ says David Burrows, group manager for skills and services development at Mictosoft UK. ‘The first is simple publication of training information on the web, which is now well established. The second wave, now under way, involves producing bespoke training with companies like Netg, using it as a delivery mechanism. The third wave is the most exciting because this gets into using the interactivity of the Internet to provide mediated training with things like video-conferencing and virtual tutors.’

British Telecom has devised a base framework for distance learning. Launched this February, Solstra is the result of two years’ research and development based on input from a panel of experts. ‘We assembled a team of around 35 training experts drawn from academia and corporate human resource departments to see where the network could contribute,’ explains Mick Durham, manager of the Solstra distance learning development program. ‘This focus group provided the input we needed to create Solstra.’

BT’s research showed that there were three clear areas where networking technology could offer organizations the opportunity to improve training and, more importantly, create the conditions for a genuine ‘learning organization.’ Mr. Durham says training was obviously identified as one area. ‘But we also saw two other areas in job support – where employees can plug into short courses relevant to a specific job task – and the area of knowledge management.’

The focus group recognized that the nature of the online training content should be more modular and needed to be surrounded by support material that would allow students to pursue their own path through the training material.

 

Answer the following questions:

1. Is there anything new about distance learning?

2. What has recently added an online dimension to distance learning?

3. What distinct waves are there in the progress of distance learning?

4. What is the result of two year’s research and development?

5. What did British Telecom show?

6. How could students pursue their own path through the training material?