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Text Box: What is Online Learning? The Internet can provide many learning opportunities, allowing you to study at a time and place that is convenient to you.  There are two types of Online learning: interactive and non-interactive. There are a large number of private companies who provide online training for almost every subject.  However, it is important to remember that there is cost for these courses and some of them can be expensive.  Many Further Education Colleges have or are currently developing online course material, so it is worthwhile checking individual websites  to see what is available. Additionally, there are a number of free or low cost options provided by Government and voluntary organisations (See links below.) Interactive Online Learning If you are completing an Interactive online course, your course material and assessments will be delivered to you via the Internet or e-mail.  Once you have downloaded your course material, you can study  offline.  When you are ready to sit the assessment, you will have to log on to your learning provider and your assessment will be available.  Online assessments are usually multiple choice questions where you simply click on the answer that you think is correct.  This type of assessment will usually provide your results immediately, letting you know if you have successfully completed the exam.  Interactive assessments usually provide feedback, so that you can review any questions that you may have answered incorrectly.  The Driving Theory test is an example of an Interactive assessment. This type of online learning may be supported by various methods.  Most online courses will provide tutor support.  You may be able to access your tutor via instant messaging (synchronous transmission where you and your tutor are online at the same time) or you may have to leave a message/e-mail for your tutor to respond to at a later date (asynchronous transmission does not rely on participants being online at the same time).  Other methods of support for online learning are message/bulletin boards, forums, wikis and blogs. These can be accessed by other students as well as tutors. Non-interactive Online Learning Non-interactive online learning is similar to distance learning, although your material may be distributed to you via the Internet/e-mail, you complete assignments offline and then submit them to your course provider via e-mail.  You may have to attend a centre to complete final assessments and you should check this with your learning provider before starting a course. As with Interactive online learning, study may be supported by various methods.  Most online courses will provide tutor support.  You may be able to access your tutor via instant messaging (synchronous transmission where you and your tutor are online at the same time) or you may have to leave a message/e-mail for your tutor to respond to at a later date (asynchronous transmission does not rely on participants being online at the same time.  What is Distance Learning Distance learning is where the tutor and the student are in separate physical locations, modes of delivery include online courses, audio tapes and videoconferencing. Useful Links: Learndirect Scotland The Open University and Finding and Using Information (from the Open University) Online tutorials to help you with various subject areas in your college and university work                                           have answered incorrectly.  The Driving Theory test is an example of an Interactive assessment. This type of online learning may be supported by various methods.  Most online courses will provide tutor support.  You may be able to access your tutor via instant messaging (synchronous transmission where you and your tutor are online at the same time) or you may have to leave a message/e-mail for your tutor to respond to at a later date (asynchronous transmission does not rely on participants being online at the same time).  Other methods of support for online learning are message/bulletin boards, forums, wikis and blogs. These can be accessed by other students as well as tutors.   Lifelong Learning and Computers
Learning in Libraries
The Computer Buddy Scheme
A Range of Computer Guides
I.T. Books
Learning Opportunities in the Local Area
Further and Higher Education
Online and Distance Learning
Lifelong Learning on the Web
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Revised: August 20, 2008.