Friday, June 22, 2012

"Points to consider while selecting LMS"

Selecting the appropriate Learning Management System (LMS) and / or Learning Content Management System (LCMS) for your organization starts with identifying your learning strategy and requirements. It is important to prioritize your requirements in order to find the right LMS that will meet your core requirements initially, and grow to meet your subsequent requirements in the future. It is important to list down your requirements and categorize them as must have and good to have.

Common Must-Have Built-in Features:

Secure logon/authentication
Ease and extent of LMS look and feel customization. The better systems allow for extensive customization to match your organization’s brand
Sub-portals: The ability to create multiple LMS instances and to partition (separate) your learner populations
Integrated learning plans, job skills, and other features to facilitate assigning and tracking of training on a job-specific basis
Learning Plans/Course Authorization
Job Skills, Succession Planning, Talent Management (corporate training).
Student Information System (registration, matriculation, grading, etc.)
Social Networking (discussion forms, live chat)
File/assignment upload
Full SCORM 2004 support
Vendor and Client Hosted options
Built-in course authoring tools (use sparingly)

Common “Nice to have”

Personalized profiles (upload picture, bio, etc.)
Internal email
Work offline/Synchronize
Online marketing tools
Course templates

for more about available features ..........click here

Selecting an LMS and /or LCMS provider for your enterprise-wide or department-wide training management, consider these areas of focus Skill Assessment, Content Access, Enrollment and Tracking, Learning Evaluation, Marketing Communications, Content Development.

Do you know what is the difference between LMS and LCMS ? No then, Click here for best link.

General things to know before selecting a LMS - Click here

Here is the link, which shall give you some idea...Seven Steps to Selecting a LMS

LMS Comparison tool

These were the articles which helped me understand about LMS. Hope the same to you.......

Leave your feedback and comments. Also let me know if anything i can add......

Thursday, June 21, 2012

E-learning conferences worldwide

Conference Alerts

AACE World Conferences

eLearning Guild Conferences

Performance Support Symposium 2012

September 13 – 14, 2012, in Marriott Long Wharf in Boston, MA

The Performance Support Symposium 2012, a new event produced by Learning Solutions Magazine, offers you an exceptional opportunity to discover how organizations can leverage investments in training and eLearning by offering employees performance support tools so they can continue to learn while they work. You are invited to join other senior learning professionals in Boston for this deep exploration of strategies, technologies, and best practices for Performance Support. The time for Performance Support is now. Visit the Performance Support Symposium 2012 website.

DevLearn 2012 Conference & Expo

October 31 – November 2, 2012, at The Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

DevLearn Conference & Expo is, by far, North America’s leading eLearning event. This event is designed for seasoned eLearning professionals who are out on the leading edge of the emerging technologies our industry will put to work for learning. If you want to know what’s coming next in the world of learning, what the leaders in the field are thinking and doing, and how new technologies impact management, strategy development, and learning development, then you need to be at DevLearn. DevLearn will attract over 2,100 participants in 2012. Visit the DevLearn|12 website.

Learning Solutions 2013 Conference & Expo

March 13 – 15, 2013, at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL

Learning Solutions Conference & Expo is for anyone focused on identifying, deploying, and managing proven technology-based learning solutions – as well as those leveraging more traditional training modalities and all manner of blended learning. So whether you are leading your organization's training & development efforts, managing a transition to eLearning, or building world-class learning, no other event offers you more of today's solutions... and tomorrow's vision. Learning Solutions Conference & Expo 2012 was held March 21-23 and drew 1,300 participants. To get a feel for what the 2013 event will be like, visit the Learning Solutions 2012 website.

I am using E-learning, are you ?

E-Learning is used for K-12 education, Higher Education, Business, and Government collaboration.

E-learning is also utilized by Schools and colleges. E-Learning environments take place in a traditional classroom, others allow students to attend classes from home or other locations. E-learning is increasingly being utilized by students who may not want to go to schools due to severe allergies or other medical issues, fear of school violence and school bullying and students whose parents would like to home school but do not feel qualified.

Many higher education institutions, now offer on-line classes. Online education is rapidly increasing and online doctoral programs have even developed at leading universities.

E-Learning has now been adopted and used by various companies to inform & educate both their employees and customers. Companies with large and spread out distribution chains use it to educate their sales staff as to the latest product developments without the need of organizing physical courses. Compliance has also been a big field of growth with banks using it to keep their staff's CPD's level up.

Developments in internet and multimedia technologies are the basic enabler of e-learning, with consulting, content, technologies, services and support being identified as the five key sectors of the e-learning industry.

Major e-learning using segments in today's world are ;

Health and safety training providers
Corporates for training needs - process training, compliance training or new employee orientation, product training, sales training.
Schools, colleges for web based learning environment.
Universities for distance learning
Pharmaceuticals, Bio-Tech & Health Care Industry for their training needs.
Non profit organization for capacity building programs.
Law firms and institutes to communicate regular updates in laws to their members.

If you looking for more details and feedback please write to me at devanand@whitehouseit.com, I work for a e-learning company.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

2012 Top 20 Content Development Companies

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

List of E-learning companies in India

Brainvisa

Address: Brainvisa Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Windsor Commerce
Survey No. 2/8/1,
Opp. Baner Telephone Exchange,
Baner Road,
Baner, Pune 411 045,
India
Phone: +91-20-27205000
+91-20-27205001
+91-20-30212400
Fax: +91-20-27205100
http://www.brainvisa.com/

Maximize Learning

Location: Pune, India
3rd Floor, 'The Metropole'
Next to INOX Multiplex
Bund Garden Road
Pune - 411 001, INDIA.
Tel: +91 20 560 50600
Fax: +91 20 560 12412

TECHBOOKSA-28, Mohan Co-op. Ind. Estate,
Mathura Road,
New Delhi - 110044, INDIA.
Tel: +91 11 516 82424
+91 11 516 82525
Fax: +91 11 516 82929
http://www.maximizelearning.com.au/

The Jasubhai Group (Owns the Elearning Company. Type I)
Operations Office
Jasubhai Group
3rd Floor, Taj Building,
110 D.N Road, Fort,
Mumbai - 400001
Ph: 022-40373636
Fax: 022-40373535

Registered Office
Jasubhai Group
Maker Chambers VI, Floor II,
Nariman Point,
Mumbai - 400 021
India

Website: http://www.jasubhai.com/elearning.php

Tata Interactive Systems (listed in NASSCOM)
Location: Mumbai, India
Address details not provided in the company website.

http://www.tatainteractive.com/

Hurix Systems Private Limited
Address:
2nd Floor, Sumer Plaza,
Marol Maroshi Road,
Opp. Hotel Temptation, Marol,
Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400 059.
Tel: +91- 022-67096888/ Fax: +91-022- 67096899
www.hurix.com

Cosmos Learning Services Pvt. Ltd.
Address:
228/229 Laxmi Plaza, Laxmi Industrial Estate
New Link Road, Andheri (w), Mumbai 4000 053
Phone: +91 22 40939393
Email: info@cosmoscreatives.com

Website:http://www.cosmoslearnings.com/

GENPACT
Address details not provided in the company website.
website: http://www.genpact.com/

Knowledge Horizon(A Dubai based Elearning Player)
India Development Center
Knowledge Horizon E-Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Disha Towers, Plot No. 3, Sr. No. 127/1
Off ITI Road (Opp. Sarjaa Restaurant),
Aundh, Pune - 411007, Maharashtra, India.

Tel.: +91 20 66280990
Fax: +91 20 66280991
E-mail: santosh@knowledgehorizon.com

Website: http://www.knowledgehorizon.com/

Learning Mate (e-learning division)
India
Abhijeet Sethi
General Manager - Professional Services
LearningMate Solutions Private Ltd.
Level 2, Trade Globe
Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri (East)
Mumbai 400 059 India

Phone: +91-22-5675-6656
Fax: +91-22-5675-6661
Email: abhijeet . sethi @ learningmate . com

Website: http://www.learningmate.com/

ClearPoint Learning Systems
101 Kensington Court
Lane No. 5, Off North Main Rd.
Koregaon Park, Pune 411 001
India
t: +91 (0)20 30520701
f: +91 (0)20 30520703
info@clearpointlearning.com

http://www.clearpointlearning.com/

Magic Software Enterprises India Pvt. Ltd.
Location:
8, Tara Icon, Mumbai Pune Road, Pune 3
Contact: Meir Koren, Regional Sales Manager - ASPC
Tel: +972 (3) 538 9480
Fax: +972 (3) 538 9333
meirk@magicsoftware.com
Contact: Ajit Shinde, Sales Manager, India
Tel: +91 20 4011211 Extn: 310, 9890035295

Magic Software

Magic Software Pvt Ltd
9th Floor, Tower C, Tech Boulevard
Plot No 6, Sector 127
Noida-201 301 (Near Delhi) INDIA
Tel: +91 120 3054 300
Fax: +91 120 3054 599
eMail: mail@magicsw.com

Magic Software Pvt Ltd
A-28, Sector 57
Noida-201 301 (Near Delhi) INDIA
Tel: +91 120 4027 600
Fax: +91 120 4027 666
eMail: mail@magicsw.com

Website: http://www.magicsw.com/

FCS (e-learning)

FCS Software Solutions Limited
Offshore Development Center
A-86 Sector 57, Noida 201301
India
Telephone No.: 0120-3061100
Fax No.: 0120-3061111

US Toll Free: 1-800-566-4604
Ext.: 220, 325

List of e-learning companies in Chennai

Mentorware Solutions

Excel-Soft Technologies
Excel-Soft Technologies Pvt. Ltd.,
1-B, Hootagalli Industrial Area,
Mysore -570 018 INDIA.

Tel : +91 821 4282000 / 4002200
Fax : +91 821 4282208
E-mail : marketing@excelindia.com
info@excelindia.com
Website : www.excelindia.com

Location: Chennai, Bangalore
Bangalore address:
Mentorware India Pvt Ltd.
952 24th Main
JP Nagar 2nd Phase
Bangalore 560 078
Karnataka
India
Phone: (91) 80 2659 3526

NTTF InfoTech
#49/1, Plot No 13, 7th Mile,
Hosur Road, Garvebhavipalya,
Bangalore 560 068 India
email: gv@nttfinfotech.com
Phone: 080-25735595 /9844165956
www.nttfinfotech.com
www.geturjobs.com

Chennai

Element K Pvt Ltd.
Location: Element K India Pvt. Ltd
RR Tower II, 4th Floor
Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate
Guindy
Chennai 600 032
INDIA
Phone: +91 44 42454000
or +91 44 22318606
Fax: +91-44-5212-0375
http://www.elementk.com/

Lionbridge (Branches found in Mumbai and Pune)
location : Lionbridge, Ascendas - International Tech Park,
'Crest' 7th Floor, Unit Nos. 1 & 2, Taramani Road,
Chennai 600 113.
Phone: +91-44-66785000
http://www.lionbridge.com/

LIONBRIDGE
Mumbai Address-
5th and 6th Floor,
Spectra Building,
Hiranandani Gardens,
Powai, Mumbai-400076.
Website: http://www.lionbridge.com/

Sify Limited
Development Center & Corporate Headquarters - Chennai
Sify Limited
2nd Floor, Tidel Park,
4, Canal Bank Road,
Taramani, Chennai 600 113
Ph: (91-44) 2254 0770 - 77
Fax: (91-44) 2254 0771

http://www.sifyelearning.com/

GP Consulting (India) Pvt. Limited
Ameen Manor, B Block
F-2, First Floor
138 Nungambakkam High Road
Chennai – 34. India
www.gpworldwide.com

Satyam (e-learning division)
Old Mahabalipuram road, Chennai.

Mumbai
Dorr-Oliver House Annex,
Chakala, Andheri East,
Mumbai - 400 099
Ph: +91-22-4001 4848
Fax: +91-22-4001 4800
Email:info@casatyam.com

Bangalore
Universal Business Centre,
No. 10/2, Narendra Plaza,
Victoria Road,
Bangalore – 560 047
Ph: +91-80-4031 6200, 40316266/73
Mobile No: +91-9820175709
Fax: +91-80-4031 6266
Email:info@casatyam.com

PULPMEDIA
Pulp Media Corporate Office
Apt. 301, Sundher Manor, Opp KBS Bus Terminal, RT Nagar, Bangalore – 560 032.
Email: abhi@pulpmedia.in | sajay@pulpmedia.in
Cell: +91-98802 37570 | +91 974222 4996
Website: http://www.pulpmedia.in/

Delhi
CA Computer Associates India Pvt. Ltd.
6th Floor, East Tower,
25, Barakhamba Road,
New Delhi – 110 001
Ph: +91-11-6656 6712/25
Mobile No: +91-9811467864
+91-9820175709
Fax: +91-11-6656 6668
Email:info@casatyam.com

Ahmedabad
57, Indraprastha Bungalows,
Near Binori Bungalows,
Bopal-Guma Road, Bopal,
Ahmedabad – 380 058
Ph: +91-271-732 6616, 6560
Email: info@casatyam.com

Website:http://www.casatyam.com/

Hurix Systems Private Limited
Location:Chennai
Hurix House, New no. 34, Old no.10,
Taylors Road, Kilpauk,
Chennai - 600010.
Tel: +91-44-4228 4888
Fax: +91-44-4228 4899
http://www.Hurix.com/

Expertus Infotech Pvt. Ltd.

6 and 7th floor, Dowlath Towers
63 Taylors Road
Kilpauk, Chennai, TN
India
Tel: 91-44-42679999
http://www.expertus.com/

3I Infotech LTD

Chennai Elearning Branch:
3i Infotech Limited
No.81, MBC Towers 4th Floor, Above Lifestyle,
TTK Road, Alwarpet
Chennai - Tamil Nadu ,IND 600018

Corporate Office

3i Infotech Limited
Akruti Centre Point, 6th Floor
M.I.D.C Central Road
Next to Marol Telephone Exchange
Andheri (East), Mumbai - 400 093
India
Tel: 91-22-39145700
Fax: 91-22-39145520

Registered Office

3i Infotech Limited,
Tower # 5, 3rd to 6th Floors,
International Infotech Park, Vashi,
Navi Mumbai 400 703

Bangalore Office

3i Infotech Limited,
‘Neil Rao Towers’ First Floor, East Wing
Plot # 118, Road # 3, EPIP Zone (Export Promotion Industrial Park)
KIADB Phase 1, Whitefield
Bangalore 560 066

Contact: marketing@3i-infotech.com

Website: http://www.3i-infotech.com

Emantras
#35/1, 3rd Street,
Abiramapuram.
Alwarpet, Chennai - 600 018
Tel : 91 - 44 - 42169462 / 63
Sales : 91 - 44 - 42169464
Mobile : 98402 98964(Sales)
http://www.emantras.com/

NIS SPARTA

Chennai Branch:
NIS Sparta
3-D "Riaz Garden" 12-13, Kodambakkam High Road, Nungambakkam,
Chennai - 600034
Ph: 044 - 39120060-61
Fax: 044 - 39120058

Other locations:
NIS Sparta
2nd Floor, 8, Balaji Estate Sudarshan Munjal Marg, Kalkaji New Delhi - 110019
Ph: 011 - 30813865
Fax: 011 - 30813851

NIS Sparta
52, Chowringhee Road,
5th Floor,
Kolkata - 700071
Ph: 033 - 30420025-27

NIS Sparta
No. - 3, First Floor,
Richmond Road,
Bengaluru - 560025
Ph: 080 - 30520430-31
080 - 30575861-63
Fax: 080 - 30520430
Website: http://www.nissparta.com/

Educomp solutions Ltd
c/o Learning Leadership Foundation
Chennai address:
The PSBB Millennium School Complex
9 GST Road, St Thomas Mount
Chennai-600016
Phone: 044 55348441/ 2

Bangalore office:
No 16, 80 Feet Road, 4th Block
Koramangala
Bangalore-560034
Telefax no: 080 25501055/ 4/ 3/ 2

Axis-v Creatives Pvt Ltd
Address: 77, Greenways Road,
R.A.Puram, Chennai -600 028
India.
Phone: +91-44-24613373
+92-44-24616037
http://www.axisv.com/
Email: Service@...

InfoPro India
C-4, Sector 58,
Noida
UP
# + 91-120-2586524-29
http://www.learning.infoprocorp.com/

Everonn Systems India Limited
No:82, IV Avenue
Ashok Nagar
Chennai - 600 083.
Tamilnadu
India.
Ph: 91-044-23718202 / 03
91-044-24715356 -59
Fax No: 91-044-24717845

http://www.everonn.com/

Robert and Bosch Elearning services
Coimbatore
Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd. (Cob)
No. 363, KG Campus,
Thudiyalur Road,
Saravanampatti, Coimbatore
Tamilnadu 641 035, India
Tel: +91 422 663 4000
Fax: +91 422 663 4104

http://www.boschindia.com/content/language1/html/7491.htm

List of E-learning Companies in Hyderabad

Deloitte
website: http://www.deloitte.com

Magna IT
Yeturi Towers, 6-2-47
AC Guards
Hyderabad
www.magnait.com

CommLab India
30, II Floor, Sarvasukhi Colony
West Marredpally
Secunderabad

www.commlabindia.com
www.commlabuniversity.com
www.blog.commlabindia.com

C&K Management
C & K Management Limited
Career Centre, 1-8-303/48/12, Prenderghast Road,
Secunderabad - 500003, INDIA.
Tel: +91-40-66385900
Fax : +91-40-27893725

Website: http://www.cnkonline.com/

Trina biz:
Address
Corporate Office: 5th Floor, Serene Towers,
Road No 10, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad- 500 034.
Phone: +91-40-5556 4101
+91-40-5556 4149

Website: http://www.trina.biz/
Fax: +91-40-5556 4130
Email
Information: info@trina.biz Employment Opportunities: jobs@trina.biz

Location:
Corporate Office:
5th Floor, Serene Towers,
Road No 10, Banjara Hills,
Hyderabad- 500 034.

Phone:
+91-40-5556 4101
+91-40-5556 4149

Fax:
+91-40-5556 4130
info@trina.biz

Employment Opportunities:
jobs@trina.biz

Globarena Technologies
Pvt. Ltd.

Location: Plot No: F-28,
Madhura Nagar,
Yousufguda,
Hyderabad – 500 038.
Ph: +91 40 23750190-93
Fax: +91 040-23750194

E-mail: support@globarena.com

http://www.globarena.com/

ANIMGRAPHIX
_____________

AnimGraphix Pvt.Ltd.
http://www.blogger.com/www.animgraphix.com
6-3-565, Erra Manzil Road,
Opp Mentor Graphics,
Taj Residency Road,
Somajiguda,
Hyderabad 500 083 India
email: surekha@animgraphix.com
Phone: 040-32991159 /9346122225
http://www.blogger.com/www.animgraphix.com

HELIX TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PVT LIMITED
Corporate Office
* Helix Technology Solutions Private Limited
* Plot # 89, Road # 2, Banjara Hills
* Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
* Pincode: 500 034

* Phone: +91-40-44369999
* Email: info@helixtechsolutions.com
website: www.helixtechsolutions.com

STAM Interactive Solutions Pvt
STAM Interactive Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Bindu Enclave
Somajiguda
Hyderabad,India
Tel. No: 91 - 40 - 6557 6283
Email: info@staminteractive.com
http://www.staminteractive.com

Kern Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
B-210 Swapnalok Complex
S D Road
Secunderabad 500 003
+91-40-40171313 (India)
+1 (201) 793 7154 (US)
http://www.kern-comm.com
http://elearning.kern-comm.com
Bangalore

Robert and Bosch (Bangalore Branches)
Headquarters
Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd. (Kor)
123 Industrial Layout
Hosur Road, Koramangala
Bangalore 560 095
Tel : +91 80 6657 5757
Fax : +91 80 2571 1841

website: http://www.boschindia.com/content/language1/html/7491.htm

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd. (NhP)
Post Box No. 9501
Naganathapura Unit
Bangalore 560 095
Tel: +91 80 4109 5000
Fax: +91 80 4109 5105

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd.(Bmh)
Gold Hill Square
690, Hosur Road
Bommanahalli
Bangalore 560 068
Tel: +91 80 4191 2000

The Written Word
(A growing company that has a creative eye with a big vision)
1017/9, 25th Main Road,Jayanagar 4th T Block,Bangalore - 560 041.
Contact Numbers: 080 - 6583 8589
+91 98802 37570
email: rsp@thewrittenword.in

website: http://www.thewrittenword.in/

Globarena,
No: 61, K. R. Road,
Opp. Basavanagudi Post Office,
Bangalore-560004,

support@globarena.com

Tel: 26609914 to 17

Chennai

Globarena,
Building No-77, Flat No-10, 3rd Floor,
J K Towers (Next to GRT School),
Seventh Avenue, Ashok nagar Chennai - 83.

support@globarena.com

Tel: +91 44 24891950/52029424, 30961811
Website: www.globarena.com

Kesdee Systems India Pvt Ltd
Bangalore
Corporate Office:
KESDEE INC.
PO Box 910207
San Diego
CA 92191-0207
U.S.A
Phone: +1-858-558-8118
+1-858-558-8228
Fax: +1-858-558-8448

Development Center: Bangalore
Website: http://www.kesdee.com/

Typei D-222/2,
TTC Industrial Area,
MIDC, Thane-Belapur Road,
New Mumbai - 400 706
Tel: +91 - 22 - 27629191/ 9200 Fax: +91 - 22 - 27629223/ 9244
http://www.jasubhai.com/

QAI India Limited
1013-14A, Ansal Towers, 38 Nehru Place,
New Delhi - 110019, India
Phone: +91- 11- 26219792, 26220580
Fax: +91- 11- 26218974
Email Id: customer_relations@qaiasia.com

Website: http://www.qaiasia.com

Aptech
Corporate Office
Aptech House, A-65
MIDC, Marol, Andheri (E)
Mumbai 400 093, INDIA
Tel: +91-22-2827 2300
Tel: +91-22-5646 2300
Fax: +91-22-2827 299

Zenith Global (e-learning)
MUMBAI (HEAD OFFICE)
201-A, Bhaveshwar Arcade, L.B.S. Marg
Opp. Shreyas Cinema, Ghatkopar (W)
Mumbai - 400086, India
Phone : +91-22-25000069, 25000634
Fax : +91-22-25000183
E-Mail: (Management Training Division) zenith@zenithglobal.com, info@zenithglobal.com
(E-Learning Division) train2success@vsnl.net

CHENNAI (DEVELOPMENT CENTRE)
Unit 37, SDF II, MEPZ-Special Economic Zone,
Tambaram, Chennai - 600 045, India
Phone: +91-44-2262 3913/2262 3915
Fax: +91-44-22620055
E-Mail:anup@zenithglobal.com, benno@zenithglobal.com

Harbinger Knowledge Products
139, Survey # 97/6
Off Paud Road, Kothrud
Pune 411038
Phone: +91.20.25284201/02/03
http://www.blogger.com/www.harbingerknowledge.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.harbingergroup.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.raptivity.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.flockpod.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.eicitus.com

Enyota learning,
eNyota Learning Pvt. Ltd.
10, Sheetal Apartments,
Koregaon Park, Pune, 411 001
Maharastra, India
Phone: +91 20 26052228

Website: http://www.enyotalearning.com/

NIIT
Has centres throughout India.

Disclaimer:The contact details of these e-learning companies were taken from the websites of the respective companies. This blog bears no responsibility for the validity of the data. I also wish to inform you that most of these organizations are actually IT companies having e-learning divisions(units). IT would be better if you could do know more about these companies before joining them.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Mobile Learning Links List

Mobile learning is currently the trendsetting technology in the field of training and learning. Here are some of the mobile learning links for your reference.

Indian e-learning courses attracting wide range of learners

Indian e-learning courses attracting wide range of learners:
The online training courses offered by the Centre for Environment, Planning and Technology (CEPT) University in Ahmadabad, India, are attracting students from all over the world.
People who are more than 50 years old, architects, government employees, self-employed workers, private sector personnel and even learners from foreign countries are all enrolling on the e-learning programme, the Indian Express reports.
Course director at CEPT Professor Sejal Patel claimed around one-fifth of all participants come from nations such as Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Belgium and Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, other people are in senior positions within the state, including members of the Ministry of Urban Development, the Ahmadabad Urban Development Authority and groups such as Poverty Alleviation, he revealed.
Professor Saswat Bandopadhyay, chair of CEPT's Centre for Continuing Education, told the publication that virtual learning environments used to be generally accessed by men.
However, at present, 46 per cent of the participants are female, he stated, pointing out "the enrolment is almost in an equal ratio".
Some of the popular course titles the academic facility provides include Urban Infrastructure Planning, Urban Planning, Environment and Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Around 25 per cent of the people involved in these programmes are engineers, while a further 15 per cent come from a scientific background, Professor Bandopadhyay added.
"The e-learning course has helped me to understand the nuances of recent demand and practices in the sector," Harpreet Singh Brar, who took the Urban Infrastructure Planning course, told the news source.
He claimed online learning gave him a professional edge and helped him to stay knowledgeable in his industry.
People taking a course through this method will not have to travel to the university to attend lectures or take exams.
Everything is accessible over the internet, meaning students will never have to come to the campus, with registration even taking place on the web.

E-learning tool 'should help GPs understand dementia'

E-learning tool 'should help GPs understand dementia':
The Alzheimer's Society and the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Group's medical education division BMJ Learning have set up a virtual learning environment for general practitioners (GPs), following a survey revealing only 37 per cent of these professionals believe they have been given sufficient basic training on dementia.
The poll of 382 GPs, which was financed by the Alzheimer's Society's partner Lilly, found 71 per cent would like to be able to use online learning to understand more about the condition.
Furthermore, 75 per cent specifically wish to know how to manage the behavioural symptoms caused by the cognitive decline.
While 88 per cent of respondents said diagnosing dementia at an early stage can bring benefits to the patient, 65 per cent of the professionals reported a significant number of individuals with the neurological condition do not go to a general practice, which impacts the number of people who are told they have the ailment.
Furthermore, 66 per cent argued the stigma associated with the illness can provide a barrier to diagnosis.
"We need to support GPs as much as possible as they have a vital role to play in diagnosing and supporting people with the condition, which is why we are very excited to launch this online learning tool," Alzheimer's Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes said.
The e-learning course includes sections on non-drug treatments for behavioural aspects of dementia, such as music, social interaction and hobbies, as well as information about early diagnosis.
Wigan GP Dr Alex Turnbull noted informing people they have dementia as quickly as possible enables them to access potential treatments and support, as well as prepare for the future.
He claimed it is "vital" that GPs have the information and support they need to help patients.
"This online learning tool is a great new resource, which should help empower GPs to achieve that," Dr Turnbull added.
According to the Alzheimer's Society, approximately 800,000 people in the UK have dementia, with women representing two-thirds of this number.

Online learning champion appointed as MIT president

Online learning champion appointed as MIT president:
An e-learning champion has been selected as the 17th president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Leo Reif, who is known as L Rafael Reif, was elected to the position following a vote by the MIT Corporation and will assume his leadership role on July 2nd.
The 61-year-old has been chief academic officer of the US university since 2005 and in this capacity he had an important part to play in the development of the institute's MITx online learning initiative.
Mr Reif led the five-year e-learning project, which was launched last December.
It provides MIT courses to students across the globe at no cost through an open-source virtual learning environment.
The initial offering of MITx - which is titled 'Circuits and Electronics' - has so far enrolled over 120,000 individuals from a number of nations.
He also had an important role in the formation of the recently-announced partnership between the academic centre and Harvard University, which is called edX and intends to bring online training to students around the world and enhance residential education provisions.
MIT's entrance into this significant $60 million collaborative project was similarly led by Mr Reif.
The new president has a vision of analysing how education can be enhanced through online learning, MIT claimed.
He has been a member of the university's faculty since 1980 and is now the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science's Fariborz Maseeh Professor of Emerging Technology.
This appointee succeeds Susan Hockfield, who has revealed she was retiring from the post after serving as MIT's leader for more than seven years.
Commenting on his appointment as MIT president, Mr Reif said: "Educating students is central to our mission, so I believe MIT should focus, institute-wide, on innovations in teaching and learning, to further enrich the powerful MIT formula of 'Mind and Hand'."
"Let me conclude with the obvious recognition that there is a great deal to do and that the sooner we start doing, the more we can get done," he added.

Welsh education minister calls for online learning to play greater role in university

Welsh education minister calls for online learning to play greater role in university:
A leading Welsh politician has called for e-learning to have a bigger influence in the higher education sector of the country.
In a speech to the Institute of Welsh Politics, education minister Leighton Andrews said he was impressed when touring the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Ibers) at Aberystwyth University, because the facility is making use of modern innovations to support education.
Ibers involves around 300 members of staff in teaching, support and research, who are examining many scientific issues, including bio-energy, the impact of climate change and the functions of genes.
Some of the clever uses of technology remarked on by the politician include the recording of lectures and the utilisation of flexible academic spaces.
However, Mr Andres said he was disappointed that only the Open University and the University of Glamorgan "appeared to be taking online learning seriously".
For example, he noted the higher learning centre in Glamorgan has used a virtual learning environment to raise awareness of the institution, as well as its students and academics.
Students at the facility could also enjoy a greater degree of flexibility in their education and communicate through the platform with a global audience.
This resulted in an "immense marketing pay-off", he stated.
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is examining the potential of e-learning and is considering how it can create content for learners to access over the internet, the minister added.
Mr Andrews stated the emerging digital world can enable pupils to access the best materials and top-rate teachers.
For example, he claimed when his step-son was studying at Bristol University, he would contact Richard Muller, professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, through email.
The minister referred to the book The Innovative University by Clayton Christensen and Henry Eyring, claiming the argument in the publication is "in essence, that digital learning is the kind of disruptive innovation that is likely to be truly transformative in its impact".

Virtual learning environments 'benefit students and teachers'

Virtual learning environments 'benefit students and teachers':
Virtual learning environments enable students to engage in personalised education, while freeing teachers from the constraints of classroom management tasks.
This is according to Michael Van Beek, dierector of education policy at Michigan-based research institute the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, who argued schools will be able to inspire and encourage students while exploiting their strengths and supporting their passions through the use of e-learning courses.
He highlighted the Clintondale Community Schools as an example of what online learning can provide.
The district has an operating deficit of around 15 per cent and relatively few areas in the state have worse finances, the specialist noted.
Nonetheless, Clintondale High School has been able to utilise the opportunities provided by innovations in the education sector to encourage student successes.
In 2010, 52 per cent of freshmen did not pass English, 28 per cent failed social studies, 41 per cent did not achieve a passing grade in science and 44 per cent failed maths.
However, these figures fell by 19 per cent, nine per cent, 13 per cent and 19 per cent respectively in just one year after principal Greg Green proposed the "flipped classroom" initiative, Mr Beek said.
As well as improving student experiences, teachers believe 'flipped' classrooms are providing them with benefits, with one educator telling him this is allowing him to coach individual pupils to help them attain their fullest potential.
Overall, the school claims its failure rates have dropped by 33 per cent in total through this e-learning solution, while discipline problems have declined by 66 per cent, which the institution describes as "dramatic".
This idea utilises digital and online learning technologies to provide educational materials to students outside of the classroom, while traditional academic time is utilised for applying and practicing this e-learning material.
"Digital learning can greatly improve the way educational services are delivered," Mr Beek said, adding: "More schools should embrace this innovation."

Online learning 'has benefits over traditional settings'

Online learning 'has benefits over traditional settings':
E-learning has a number of advantages when compared with traditional classroom education.
This is according to Stock Market Digital editor Artika Shah, who wrote in Business Review India that online learning courses help teachers to develop students' knowledge of the internet.
Furthermore, it can help youngsters build self-confidence by enabling them to successfully take responsibility for their own education, she continued.
A well-designed virtual learning environment has been shown to result in higher levels of retention than instructor-led academia, while it is also more cost-effective than classrooms, she remarked.
Online training enables people to study the course from their own home, minimising the amount of time spent travelling. This provides flexibility, Ms Shah declared, noting it allows students to take a class at any time and in any location.
She called this aspect "the greatest advantage of e-learning".
Personalisation can be enacted throughout academia with online learning, as it allows students to choose materials that meet their level of knowledge, as well as their specific interests.
"E-learning offers solutions that are cost-effective, totally customisable and easy to manage and access," the specialist said.
However, Ms Shah noted it can involve significant amounts of time management and self-discipline to succeed when studying through this platform.
Motivation is essential if a person is to benefit from online courses as the academic experience "can be impersonal", she continued.
While it is "definitely helpful in teaching background and technical information", some subjects such as sports or public speaking will need to be bolstered through further assistance and are not good candidates for e-learning by itself, the expert noted.
Online learning is an emerging sector in India, creating opportunities for students and jobseekers.
"It is a field where the instructional designers, developers and graphic designers brainstorm together to develop effective and creative learning content for the instructor-led and web based courses." Ms Shah said.
The Express News Service recently reported that e-learning is also becoming popular among students in Bangalore, with young people in the Indian city commonly using digital technologies to communicate and study.

E-learning course 'should help clinicians treat anxiety'

E-learning course 'should help clinicians treat anxiety':
A new online training course from Behavioural Tech should provide clinicians with experience in the handling of anxiety problems or other ailments that require treatments with a component of exposure.
Only 28 per cent of therapists in the mental health profession have been trained in utilising exposure to assist people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with this falling to 12 per cent among other anxiety-related problems.
However, research has indicated around 75 per cent of people treated with this method experience a significant improvement in their levels of anxiousness, making this the most effective treatment model for this kind of condition, Behavioural Tech claimed.
Therefore, the new e-learning course from the organisation should enable healthcare practitioners to utilise exposure by teaching them about how to do so in an interactive, step-by-step fashion, giving students feedback throughout the programme.
Users of the online training course will enter a virtual learning environment featuring six simulated clients, who will be facing exposure in settings such as at home, in a shopping centre, at the restaurant, in the airport or at a motorbike store.
Clinicians will be able to increase the number of services they provide by developing the skills needed to have a foundation in the treatment of a range of conditions.
These include agoraphobia, specific phobias, generalised anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, panic disorders and social anxiety.
Contained within the e-learning course are 49 videos, four interactive eBooks and dozens of supplemental tools.
"Just like exposure therapy works for clients, exposure therapy works for therapists, so the more you do it, the easier it gets," director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Center at the University of California Los Angeles Michele Craske declared.
According to the UK's National Health Service, other frequent treatments for anxiety include cognitive behavioural therapy and applied relaxation, as well as a series of short-term and long-term medications.

Online learning students 'process information faster'

Online learning students 'process information faster':
Students who use online learning can take in information faster than those who only take part in classroom-based sessions, new research has indicated.
A study conducted by non-profit think tank Ithhaka S+R used two versions of a statistics course to compare the effectiveness of the two different forms of learning, Boston.com reports.
One group of students received only face-to-face teaching, while the other was only allocated an hour with their lecturers and spent the remaining time being taught online.
The latter group were seen to learn faster and Ithaka adviser and chancellor of the University System of Maryland William Kirwan said online learning has the potential to be a "model that can totally change the teaching and learning process while lowering costs".
Ithaka's report is the second it has conducted on the topic of online learning in recent weeks, as earlier this month it published an investigation into the current landscape of online learning at higher education level.
Co-author of the first paper and former president of Tufts University Lawrence Bacow said while the findings of the two papers are not an indication that online learning has superseded traditional forms of education, it is performing well considering it is still "in its infancy".
"Today's students become tomorrow's faculty. They will have much greater comfort using these tools. This is only going to get better over time," he remarked.
President of Suffolk University James McCarthy, who worked on the design and implementation of the new paper, said the challenge for online learning is for it to be a success at a wide variety of institutions, rather than just high-ranking universities and colleges.
"The notion that online courses might work at [Massachusetts Institute of Technology] MIT or Harvard or Stanford or Carnegie Mellon is in a certain sense neither here or there, because those places are going to survive and thrive whatever they do," he explained.
MIT and Harvard have teamed up to provide an online learning product called edX, which will give people worldwide access to learning materials from the two universities. Each institution has pledged $30 million (£18.5 million) for development of the initiative.

Social media 'driving' online learning

Social media 'driving' online learning:
The rise of social media and technological advances have made online learning a more viable solution for those who want to take an educational course without being on-campus on a regular basis.
More universities are now offering distance learning courses and lecturer in media and education at Bournemouth University Mark Readman told the Guardian that its new media practice course is specifically aimed towards distance learners.
Students "are supported by online distance learning and Skype tutorials", he explained, adding they meet on campus for a two-day course once a term to discuss ideas face-to-face and "get to grips with the syllabus".
Many establishments use web portals to post learning materials and allow students to upload completed assignments. Blackboard, the system in place at the University of Leicester, gives pupils a place to "interact with each other online", explained director of learning and teaching at the institution Dr Clive Marshall.
He noted pupils are also being proactive and embracing social media sites such as Facebook to share their ideas and problems.
Director of learning, teaching and quality at the Open University (OU) Niall Sclater told the news source distance learning is especially suited to younger students who are moving into higher education straight after finishing sixth form or college, as they are already familiar with the power of social networking and using the web to obtain information.
The OU has approximately 30,000 students under the age of 25 and Wales' education minister Leighton Andrews has called for e-learning to play a greater role in the education of young people in the country.
He said in a speech to the Institute of Welsh Politics that while the OU and the University of Glamorgan are catering to demand, it is disappointing that they seem to be the only establishments in the country to be taking it seriously.

University of St Andrews approves postgraduate online training course

University of St Andrews approves postgraduate online training course:

An e-learning course has received official approval from the University of St Andrews.

The aquaculture subject is operated by TheFishSite and the educational facility and the postgraduate certificate's official accreditation was announced by director of the subject Neil Hazon during Aviemore's Aquaculture UK exhibition and conference.
Other enterprises involved in the creation of the virtual learning environment include 5M Publishing and consultancy body Fish Vet Group.
The online training platform was first launched in 2009 and aimed to assist new biological sciences graduates that wanted to improve their knowledge and skills in the global water-based industry.
It is a modular subject and features part-time study through the virtual learning environment, which enables students to complete their education while remaining in employment.
Elements of the e-learning course include the biology of fishes and invertebrates, the structure of the international aquaculture sector, as well as markets and products.
Each of these modules contains a number of online learning tools, including discussions, case studies, lectures and tutorials.
A starter e-learning course, which takes one year to complete, is designed for individuals with no experience of aquaculture, while the postgraduate diploma lasts for 18 months.

Students who pass this module can then convert the diploma into a Masters of Science (MSc) degree following up to six months' research in the field.
"The undergraduate certificate course can provide a road into the post graduate courses for people with experience of the industry," Mr Hazon said.
He added: "To get the MSc through the undergraduate certificate, people will have had to have worked in the industry for some time."
The specialist had previously described the Certificate in Aquaculture online learning course as primarily to do with "sustainable food production".
Dr Hazon stated: "The course aims to address the many challenges of the global aquaculture industry, with strong components drawing directly on experience from the fields of marine and fresh water aquaculture."

'Most US school districts' enable distance learning online

'Most US school districts' enable distance learning online:
The majority (53 per cent) of public school districts in the US were taking advantage of online learning or other remote education tools in the 2009 to 2010 academic year.
This is according to the US Education Department's annual Condition of Education Report, which revealed that 1.3 million high school students were taking part in remote learning during the year, compared with just 300,000 five years earlier.
It defined distance education courses as those that are delivered by technology, grant credits and have either the instructor or course content developed and located in a different place than the students.
A total of 12 per cent of the nation's educational districts are enabling individuals to use online learning to fulfil all of the requirements of their high school graduation, with 22 per cent allowing people to take at least one full course load every term using this innovation.
Furthermore, the most popular model for remote education was through e-learning courses provided on the internet with asynchronous instruction, rather than simultaneous dialogue.
Overall, 63 per cent of the districts that provided distance learning revealed this was the primary mode of its deliverance.
Just 17 per cent of areas reported that the most frequent tool to provide this service was through two-way interactive video.
Virtual learning environments forming a digital school within the student's state provided the e-learning courses in 33 per cent of the districts that deliver remote education.
The most commonplace source for the provision of this service was through postsecondary educational facilities within the US, with this utilised in 50 per cent of regions, while 47 per cent took advantage of independent vendors.
"Educators all across our country are tackling tough issues in ways that just a few years ago seemed unimaginable," secretary of education Arne Duncan recently said to the Mom Congress.
He added: "This educational sea-change is a powerful shift that is beginning to fundamentally improve the lives of students. I can't tell you how much hope that gives me for the future."

E-learning 'is transforming education'

E-learning 'is transforming education':
Online learning will have a transformative effect on the education sector.
This is according to retired superintendent Geoff Johnson, who wrote in a column for Canadian publication the Victoria Times Colonist how he has realised the world of academia has changed quickly in recent years.
E-learning has challenged the traditional assumptions of when, where and how students learn, with teachers able to guide youngsters through the internet and point them towards archived educational material, references and relevant YouTube footage.
Although the classic classroom setting of the educator at the front of the room and desks facing a blackboard in a row is not yet obsolete, it is becoming so, he remarked.
Furthermore, virtual learning environments have opened up access to education to a wider range of people, rather than just children in school, the specialist added.
He compared education to music, arguing as internet access to songs and albums has altered the purchasing habits of people and revolutionised the relevant sectors, "online learning will inevitably affect the traditional delivery of public education".
The change will alter everything about academia, including building designs, classroom practices and the technology utilised within schools, the expert suggested.
Furthermore, e-learning should also cause "the emergence of truly individualised learning programs", he continued.
Mr Johnson explained he has begun to become more confident with mathematics due to online education, after taking a lesson on equations from an e-learning academy.
He questioned why the energy teachers' unions and the government put into debating the "politics of public education" is not instead focused on discovering "ways to use, correlate or modify these online learning gateways".
This corresponds with statements made by PhD student at Canada's University of Prince Edward Island Bonnie Stewart, who blogs at CribChronicles.com.
She forecast that e-learning and similar innovations will augment classroom education in the future, instead of simply supplanting them.

E-learning scheme for Jersey schools revealed

E-learning scheme for Jersey schools revealed:
A new online learning initiative has been unveiled on the island of Jersey.
Computer clubs will initially open at Jersey College for Girls, Haute Ballee, Le Rocquier and Hautlieu through the pilot phase of the project.
Students will take advantage of cloud computing technology and shall be advised by a number of IT professionals.
According to Isle News, Jersey's education, sports and culture e-safety and e-learning manager Jon Tarrant described the initiative as "exciting".
He explained that businesses have been calling for this type of scheme in the area and argued it is "fantastic" local companies are helping in the project.
It is assisting young members of the community that wish to explore computing and information technology (IT) in "more depth", the e-learning specialist continued.
He noted authorities are in conversation with the British Computer Society in Jersey to discover new ways to support IT-based education in the future.
"The enthusiasm that exists both in schools and in the local community for developing IT skills is truly inspiring," Mr Tarrant told the news source.
One of these computing clubs will focus on programming, with mentorship provided by Jersey-based software specialists Simon Brown, Christos Valerkou and John Hollis.
Participants in these clubs will take part in 12 sessions, which will investigate issues such as bug detection and resolution, creating items or moving objects.
When the pilot phase of the digital learning scheme concludes, a contest is to be held which will identify the best game made as a result of the course.
The winning school will be presented with 20 Raspberry Pi computers.
Assistant minister for education Rod Bryans said it is "very refreshing" to see local businesses working with schools and providing them with services and time.
"I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of the pilot programming challenge during the summer term," the politician added.

Distance learning online 'will revolutionise higher education'

Distance learning online 'will revolutionise higher education':
Online learning will result in a revolution in the provision of higher education, it has been said.
Writing for the Wall Street Journal, interim chief executive officer of Education Sector John Chubb and professor of political science at Stanford University Terry Moe, who were the joint authors of the book Liberating Learning: Technology, Politics and the Future of American Education, argued the US and the international community are in the "early stages of a historic transformation" in education..
"The coming revolution is essentially about finding a new balance in the way education is organised - a balance in which students still go to school and have face-to-face interactions within a community of scholars, but also do a portion of their work online," they declared.
E-learning will affect the settings and habits of schools and school systems, the way in which students learn and the methods tutors use to teach, they declared.
Online learning courses could result in substantial improvements to the accessibility and quality of higher education, the specialists remarked.
For instance, the e-learning projects developed by Harvard or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology enable people to engage in distance learning online, meaning students do not have to live on-campus to realise "some of the key benefits of an elite education", they pointed out.
At reasonable tuition prices, a Nobel laureate could teach millions of students through a virtual learning environment.
As has happened in many other industries, online learning will result in the substitution of cheap technology for expensive labour, which will boost the productivity of academic centres, the specialists remarked.
Furthermore, e-learning can also be particularly engaging, with content presented through a variety of methods, including games, simulations and videos.

Some of the other benefits provided by this emerging educational tool are that students can be educated at their own pace, 24 hours a day.
Data on an individual's progress through the online learning course can be collected systematically, while it also permits continual assessment and personalised tutoring over the internet, they added.
Many other specialists have forecast e-learning to fundamentally alter the provision of education, with retired superintendent Geoff Johnson writing in the Victoria Times Colonist that the public school system will be "inevitably" effected by this emerging sector.

E-learning courses 'are as effective as traditional education'

E-learning courses 'are as effective as traditional education':

Using high-quality online learning courses does not negatively impact the academic attainment of higher educational students, a study has shown.

Interactive Learning Online at Public Universities: Evidence from Randomized Trials was produced by Brown Center on Education Policy fellow Matthew Chingos and his colleagues at Ithaka S+R.
It involved randomly assigning people to take an introductory statistics course through either traditional university educational models - which typically involve three or four hours of direct instruction every week - or through a hybrid format, with one hour of face-to-face contact with instructors every seven days and e-learning tools providing machine-guided assistance.

Mr Chingos explained that both groups of students did just as well when their abilities were tested through performance on standardised tests in the subject, as well as in terms of final exam results and pass rates.
"These zero-difference coefficients are precisely estimated," the report declared.

Mr Chingos argued the lack of difference between the effectiveness of online training and traditional educational models could be seen as disappointing, but pointed out he and the research team consider it "hugely consequential".

"It shows that fears of online learning leading to worse outcomes are unfounded," he pointed out.
Colleges and universities will be able to cut their costs of education and improve the efficiency of faculty staff's use of time, the researcher declared.

Mr Chingos said higher learning institutions might then be able to combat the trend of "ever-rising tuition prices" and serve a wider range of students.

"Adopting hybrid models of instruction in large introductory courses have the potential to significantly reduce instructor compensation costs in the long run," the study remarked.
Furthermore, virtual learning environments could become more and more sophisticated, which the scientist noted might result in "even better outcomes".

He claimed online learning's position in US universities results in "strong opinions" from both sides of the argument, with proponents predicting a revolutionising effect and sceptics saying it is a way for schools to reduce their expenditure, regardless of how it affects students.

E-learning 'should impact high schools'

E-learning 'should impact high schools':

High schools ought to become involved with online learning, an expert has said.
In an article for Newsday, former superintendent of Valley Stream Central and Bellmore-Merrick Central high school districts Marc Bernstein highlighted the virtual learning environments recently unveiled by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

As these two prestigious educational centres have begun to provide free online learning courses for college students, this is considered a "stamp of approval for this use of technology", he declared.
The two facilities have joined other institutions in determining that e-learning projects can be an "effective way to advance education", the specialist stated.

He noted this approach could herald "a true revolution" to learning and teaching within high schools, pointing out online training does not require instructors and students to partake in regularly-scheduled meetings.
Traditional models of education involving around 30 pupils, sat in "tidy rows" and facing a teacher, "can and should be replaced" by a combination of face-to-face tuition and interactive online learning courses, focused on a curriculum that motivates students, the expert declared.

Former superintendent Geoff Johnson recently made a similar argument in the Times Colonist, suggesting that while the classic classroom model of education is not yet obsolete, "it's getting there".
Mr Bernstein pointed out teenagers are typically somewhat capable at utilising technology and are prepared for the challenges of distance learning online.

He forecast a possible future wherein high school lessons combine online training and teacher direction, with each format taking place on alternating days.

The lessons led by technology would theoretically be able to cope with an unlimited class size, while teachers would highlight and review the goals outlined in the curriculum and detailed in computer-generated assessment reports.

Furthermore, these professionals could be used to provide human contact of both a personal and academic nature, compensating for something online learning courses would not be able to provide.

Africa 'is embracing online learning'

Africa 'is embracing online learning':

E-learning is having a significant impact to the education of people in Africa, a new study has revealed.
The eLearning Africa 2012 Report, complied by German organisation eLearning Africa, found 48 per cent of those surveyed utilise mobile tools in education, while 74 per cent use information and communication technologies to support tuition within the classroom,
Furthermore, 36 per cent have taken advantage of shared resource computing within academic centres.
The most important factor hampering the growth of African online learning is a lack of bandwidth, the investigation found.

Ministers and the government were highlighted as the top agent for change in e-learning, while the main motivation for educators to use digital technologies was to boost the quality of their teaching, with this the reason for 42 per cent of those polled to take advantage of these innovations.
However, 21 per cent claimed they utilise e-learning tools in their tuition to assist learners in developing 21st-century skills, while 17 per cent highlighted the importance of online learning in providing education to people in remote regions.

While 43 per cent of respondents came from higher education facilities, 20 per cent taught in primary, secondary or middle schools and another 20 per cent dealt equally across all academic sectors.
A further 11 per cent performed within technical vocational training and education.
The most popular country for respondents to work in was Nigeria, representing 16 per cent of the people surveyed, with this followed by South Africa at 14 per cent.

"The aspiration of The eLearning Africa Report is to provide regular, yearly snapshots of how perceptions and realities combine and collide over time, with particular reference to the eLearning experience in Africa.
"It is hoped that these will lead to richer, more nuanced conversations, healthier decision-making and more effective action-taking towards ensuring 'Education for All' in Africa," report author and programme director for eLearning Africa Shafika Isaacs declared.

Online learning 'could be supported by mobile tools'

Online learning 'could be supported by mobile tools':

The future of e-learning will be seen in mobile platforms, a specialist has predicted.

Writing for CampusTechnology.com, education consultant and Daymar Colleges Group executive director of executive programmes and faculty Ruth Reynard pointed out online learning courses have been around for long enough for teachers to know the challenges and benefits this innovation provides.

However, she pointed out web-connected technology is becoming ubiquitous, with the experiences of young people's exploration, interaction and communication now "increasingly mobile".

Many schools and colleges, especially those providing higher education, are facing challenges as a result of the heightened level of flexibility today's students require, as well as rising expectations in the institutions they work for, Ms Reynard had previously noted.

Students are therefore changing their education about what they expect from academia, the specialist argued.
Ms Reynard suggested educators embrace mobile technology and its relationship with virtual learning environments by realising digital tools can capture interactive exchanges, instructional support and educational events, which "can truly help teachers store helpful moments for additional use outside the classroom".

This information can then be sent to students through mobile devices and on the internet, she added.
Furthermore, teachers can support youngsters engaged in distance learning online by interacting with the e-learning course attendees.

Mobile learning tools also enable collaboration between learners, as well as among teachers, with this "based on actual ideas - not just information", she remarked.

The knowledge students acquire can be shared through social networking, mobile devices and other online learning tools, integrating the experiences of students together, the specialist stated.

Using connectivity in education means "students can respond to questions instantly and teachers can immediately gauge where their whole class is in terms of their response to questions", she pointed out.

Ms Reynard predicted that educators consider the emerging field of mobile-enabled online training, suggesting that teachers "begin to adjust [their] mindsets and those of [their] colleagues by exploring the realities of capture and distribution, student driven processes and changed outcomes".

Food Safety on a budget? Try Online Training!

Food Safety on a budget? Try Online Training!:

We all think about food safety when we visit takeaways, restaurants and cafes, but how often do we look at what’s happening in our own homes and offices? The Food Standards Agency has marked this week in June as Food Safety Week, an annual event aimed at helping to promote good practice in the home and raise awareness of the dangers presented by food, whilst promoting the use of leftovers and dispelling myths.

On their current site you can request a number of leaflets and documents, and there are handy bullet points of advice such as “Understanding ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates”, “Use leftovers safely” and “Plan your meals”; all designed to help you eat better on a budget. Food Safety Week is also supported by the 'Love Food Hate Waste' campaign. Several local government bodies across the UK are also getting involved, setting up demonstrations and offering free advice on meal planning.

Of course, with a theme of 'budgets', as an e-learning provider we here at Virtual College know all about helping people to reduce their training costs, and our Food Hygiene courses are a great example of this; to date we’ve trained over 90,000 people with our City & Guilds accredited courses, and we are constantly developing the course to include updated legislation and improve delivery according to customer feedback.

In March this year, we took the decision to make the course available using a 'self-print' certificate system, which has allowed us to reduce the cost to the consumer, while still offering the choice of a premium printed and foiled display certificate. These official certificates are still preferred by many professional organisations, but for those on a budget who simply need to comply with training regulations, the self-print option still contains a quality, accredited, training course.

If you're ready to find out more and buy your online food hygiene training, you can see demos from our range of courses here or for more information on what's happening in your area for Food Safety Week, check out the Food Standards Agency website www.food.gov.uk or contact your local council.