E-learning will be the next big Internet application, revolutionising education and training in schools, businesses and governments around the world, according to the network solutions company Cisco Systems.
Program manager of Cisco E-learning Business Solutions, Dominic Scott, said: 'E-learning is a total communication solution. It brings together the Internet and education, embracing Internet-enabled communication, information access, training and learning.'
In the information age, ever higher expectations are placed on the workforce. It has to have various skills and knowledge to keep pace with the changing global economy. So retraining has become a universal trend.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), approximately 80 per cent of the present workforce needs retraining. Of new Net jobs, IDC estimates that 75 per cent will be professional, technical and managerial.
Faced with escalating demand for skills, countries must adapt to the Internet economy to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive world market, said Mr Scott. And Hong Kong's prosperity depends on its ability to train its workforce.
Through e-learning, individuals can learn faster from a greater variety of sources at reduced cost.
To motivate people to acquire knowledge through e-learning, Mr Scott said they tried to make the content more interesting and interactive by using animations, videos and virtual classrooms.