Online learning includes all types of teaching and learning. There are communication and information systems that serve as the media needed in order to implement this type of learning. The term “online learning” basically refers to classroom education that is acquired through the use of technology.
This type of learning where the network-enabled and computer transfer of knowledge and skills is utilized, processes and applications include digital collaboration, opportunities of virtual classroom, computer-based learning and Web-based learning. The content of the materials to be learned is sent through the Internet, satellite TV, video or audio tape, and extranet/intranet. This type of learning can be customized at the students own pace or it can be instructor led with media elements to include audio, animation, text, video streaming, and image.
By the year 2006 in the U.S., there were around 3.5 million students taking some type of online-learning within an institute of higher education. The Slogan Foundation reports state that the rise of participation in online learning was an average of 12 to 14% between the years of 2004 to 2009. By 2008, there were more that 25% of all post-secondary education students taking some type of online courses which increased in 2009 to 44%. The number of students taking online courses is expected to rise as much as 81 percent by the year 2014. There are many for-profit institutes of higher education that now offer online classes and the general consensus is that students are just as satisfied with this form of education as with the traditional classroom style.
