Animation, video clips, automated grading, interactive testing, on-line discussions - the Internet is changing the way people think of education.
'Over several generations, distance learning has evolved from correspondence courses to video and satellite broadcast models of remote learning,' Desmond Kwok, managing director, Lotus Development Software (HK), said.
One of the shortcomings of distance learning had traditionally been the lack of personal contact between teachers and students. This, however, was changing, with the advent of chat rooms, e-mail and video-conferencing.
'The connectivity of the Internet and a new generation of software applications is bringing distance learning up to these standards,' Mr Kwok said.
'They make possible a new model of on-line learning - one which provides significantly higher quality and flexibility and which is more appropriately labelled 'distributed learning'.' Mr Kwok defined distrib uted learning as 'a variety of technologies, learning methodologies, on-line collaboration and instructor facilitation to achieve applied learning results not possible from traditional education in a truly flexible, anytime-anywhere fashion'.
There is a greater need among those trying to acquire knowledge and skills to be able to learn from any location at any time. This has been made easier through information technology.
'The Web is accelerating our ability to create and distribute digital content and to teach and facilitate learning and collaboration on-line,' he said.