| Do you wish to find a school near you for an | | | | Canada use online learning so much, that for |
| online program? If you know the subject area | | | | many people distance education is thought to be |
| you want, use the search form below to find the | | | | only about online learning. But in reality, not all |
| school or program most suitable for you. Or are | | | | distance education programs are offered totally |
| you wanting to find out about online learning | | | | online. In fact, many distance education programs |
| programs in a particular discipline, or about college | | | | use a mix of modalities in that they also refer the |
| admission, or financing for your studies, or free | | | | learner to physical books. However, even these |
| education? Are you a student wanting to know | | | | are increasingly available online. In many developing |
| more about what distance learning is all about? Or | | | | countries where the availability of computers and |
| how new ICTs are changing classroom education? | | | | access to the Internet cannot be assumed, |
| This section of the web site tries to help you find | | | | distance education very often still uses a mix of |
| some answers. | | | | hard-copy study guides, books and attendance at |
| There are reasons behind everyone asking about | | | | weekend classes. There are many initiatives to |
| distance education and online learning. In these | | | | try to change the problems of access to ICT, |
| difficult financial times, there has been a massive | | | | e.g., "One Laptop per Child (OLPC)", so that those |
| increase in the number of learners wanting to | | | | countries can also reap the benefits of using ICT |
| know more about online learning & distance | | | | in learning. |
| learning. Not only is learning online usually more | | | | New information and communication technology |
| affordable, it is also more convenient for these | | | | (ICT) has made online learning or e-learning |
| distance education learners. But one of the good | | | | possible, in which learners can participate in |
| things about online learning is that it is not only | | | | interactive learning using audio and |
| used in distance education programs - it is also | | | | video-conferencing, email, chat and |
| used for campus-based programs. | | | | computer-conferencing. The distance learner can |
| There are certain differences between online | | | | now have almost the same instructional contact |
| learning and distance education. Distance education | | | | and interaction as the student on campus. This is |
| has been a method of learning for individuals | | | | why distance learners want to know more about |
| wanting to study at home for at least one | | | | online learning programs. But online learning is not |
| hundred years, starting with correspondence | | | | just the province of distance education. It is also |
| learning (home study) via postal mail. With the | | | | used in campus-based education. The on-campus |
| greater use of computers and the Internet, it is | | | | student can now have another modality to use in |
| now possible to offer distance education | | | | addition to the lecture and tutorial. So on-campus |
| programs using only the online modality. In fact, | | | | students and teachers also need to know more |
| distance education programs in the US and | | | | about online learning. |