It should be very clear that we live in a most spectacular time.
It
should
be
very
clear
that
we
live
in
a
most
spectacular
time
.
It's a time when information is of primary importance.
It
's
a
time
when
information
is
of
primary
importance
.
It's a time when new information technologies are fundamentally transforming the world in every aspect.
It
's
a
time
when
new
information
technologies
are
fundamentally
transforming
the
world
in
every
aspect
.
Among the changes, which have come upon modern society, the ones in education are probably the most obvious and influential.
Among
the
changes
,
which
have
come
upon
modern
society
,
the
ones
in
education
are
probably
the
most
obvious
and
influential
.
New information technologies are accelerating changes in education, at the same time presenting revolutionary tools with the potential to make education more efficient and more effective than ever.
New
information
technologies
are
accelerating
changes
in
education
,
at
the
same
time
presenting
revolutionary
tools
with
the
potential
to
make
education
more
efficient
and
more
effective
than
ever
.
The application of new information technologies has remarkably promoted the process of education.
The
application
of
new
information
technologies
has
remarkably
promoted
the
process
of
education
.
Online learning is probably the best case in point.
Online
learning
is
probably
the
best
case
in
point
.
As is often the case with "technology", online learning may appear to be horrible; it can sound like alphabet soup sometimes.
As
is
often
the
case
with
``
technology
''
,
online
learning
may
appear
to
be
horrible
;
it
can
sound
like
alphabet
soup
sometimes
.
Now let's see whether you can understand all this.
Now
let
's
see
whether
you
can
understand
all
this
.
You can participate in CBT at a CLC via the convenience of IDL.
You
can
participate
in
CBT
at
a
CLC
via
the
convenience
of
IDL
.
What does it all mean?
What
does
it
all
mean
?
Let me translate: GBT--Computer-Based Training; CLC--Computer Learning Center; IDL--Interactive Distance Learning.
Let
me
translate
:
GBT
--
Computer-Based
Training
;
CLC
--
Computer
Learning
Center
;
IDL
--
Interactive
Distance
Learning
.
Sound complicated?
Sound
complicated
?
Not really.
Not
really
.
Online learning is much less complicated than it seems.
Online
learning
is
much
less
complicated
than
it
seems
.
Students can learn at any time, anywhere, at any speed.
Students
can
learn
at
any
time
,
anywhere
,
at
any
speed
.
They can make their own learning schedules and follow their own paths to suit their lifestyles.
They
can
make
their
own
learning
schedules
and
follow
their
own
paths
to
suit
their
lifestyles
.
In my university, every semester there're several online courses available, which need no class meetings or paper materials.
In
my
university
,
every
semester
there
're
several
online
courses
available
,
which
need
no
class
meetings
or
paper
materials
.
The only thing I have to do is just to get online regularly as I wish, and download necessary learning materials.
The
only
thing
I
have
to
do
is
just
to
get
online
regularly
as
I
wish
,
and
download
necessary
learning
materials
.
Then everything I need to know about the course is only a click away.
Then
everything
I
need
to
know
about
the
course
is
only
a
click
away
.
But online learning is not perfect; it's like the microwave oven: it does some things better, but it is not a complete replacement for the traditional model.
But
online
learning
is
not
perfect
;
it
's
like
the
microwave
oven
:
it
does
some
things
better
,
but
it
is
not
a
complete
replacement
for
the
traditional
model
.
The traditional classroom model for education and learning is hard to leave behind.
The
traditional
classroom
model
for
education
and
learning
is
hard
to
leave
behind
.
Because humans are social creatures, there're times when we need to see each other face-to-face for interactive learning.
Because
humans
are
social
creatures
,
there
're
times
when
we
need
to
see
each
other
face-to-face
for
interactive
learning
.
A social and personal connection often builds effective teams, solves problems, and inspires confidence.
A
social
and
personal
connection
often
builds
effective
teams
,
solves
problems
,
and
inspires
confidence
.
So one possible solution is to combine online learning with the old traditional classroom learning, which not only makes the learning process faster and cheaper, but also highlights the interactions between teachers and students.
So
one
possible
solution
is
to
combine
online
learning
with
the
old
traditional
classroom
learning
,
which
not
only
makes
the
learning
process
faster
and
cheaper
,
but
also
highlights
the
interactions
between
teachers
and
students
.
The bottom line: the Internet is the most important educational tool in the information age and online learning will become a main part of every individual's learning experience in the future.
The
bottom
line
:
the
Internet
is
the
most
important
educational
tool
in
the
information
age
and
online
learning
will
become
a
main
part
of
every
individual
's
learning
experience
in
the
future
.
That's exactly how we will move knowledge from the ones who have it to the ones who need it faster and cheaper, and that's how we're going to survive in the information age.
That
's
exactly
how
we
will
move
knowledge
from
the
ones
who
have
it
to
the
ones
who
need
it
faster
and
cheaper
,
and
that
's
how
we
're
going
to
survive
in
the
information
age
.
It should be very clear that we live in a most spectacular time. It's a time when information is of primary importance. It's a time when new information technologies are fundamentally transforming the world in every aspect. Among the changes, which have come upon modern society, the ones in education are probably the most obvious and influential. New information technologies are accelerating changes in education, at the same time presenting revolutionary tools with the potential to make education more efficient and more effective than ever.  The application of new information technologies has remarkably promoted the process of education. Online learning is probably the best case in point. As is often the case with "technology", online learning may appear to be horrible; it can sound like alphabet soup sometimes. Now let's see whether you can understand all this. You can participate in CBT at a CLC via the convenience of IDL. What does it all mean? Let me translate: GBT--Computer-Based Training; CLC--Computer Learning Center; IDL--Interactive Distance Learning. Sound complicated? Not really. Online learning is much less complicated than it seems. Students can learn at any time, anywhere, at any speed. They can make their own learning schedules and follow their own paths to suit their lifestyles. In my university, every semester there're several online courses available, which need no class meetings or paper materials. The only thing I have to do is just to get online regularly as I wish, and download necessary learning materials. Then everything I need to know about the course is only a click away.  But online learning is not perfect; it's like the microwave oven: it does some things better, but it is not a complete replacement for the traditional model. The traditional classroom model for education and learning is hard to leave behind. Because humans are social creatures, there're times when we need to see each other face-to-face for interactive learning. A social and personal connection often builds effective teams, solves problems, and inspires confidence. So one possible solution is to combine online learning with the old traditional classroom learning, which not only makes the learning process faster and cheaper, but also highlights the interactions between teachers and students.  The bottom line: the Internet is the most important educational tool in the information age and online learning will become a main part of every individual's learning experience in the future. That's exactly how we will move knowledge from the ones who have it to the ones who need it faster and cheaper, and that's how we're going to survive in the information age.