| I'm now going back into education, swotting it out in | | | | work priorities. Of course, me being me, my gripes |
| a virtual learning environment. I've enrolled on a | | | | are that I do like the social networking side to college |
| distance-learning course, with my computer as the | | | | life, or even just the little things like sitting in the |
| primary tool, with coursework, research and even | | | | cafeteria having a natter with some course mates. |
| classes conducted via the Internet. I wouldn't call it | | | | Although I've done that in the past, and I'll probably |
| exactly the e-learning revolution, because I don't get | | | | do another work related course in that way again, |
| carried away with the swishy image of online learning, | | | | but for now a bit of distance learning is just what is |
| but it is useful and far more practical than having to | | | | needed. |
| beat the traffic and grab time off work to go into a | | | | Yet a week into my online education, and although |
| college every day. My online course is an ideal way to | | | | I'm covering a lot ground and saving a whole lot of |
| extend my post graduate diploma into a masters | | | | stress, things are flying at work. I'm stuck behind 3 |
| degree, and it costs miles less than actually going to | | | | nights in a row and don't get home until 10pm. This is |
| college, because most of the work I'm going to do | | | | ridiculous, I'm supposed to be getting home to |
| from home. | | | | relaxation, dinner, and a couple of hours online study, |
| There are lots of pros and cons about online learning | | | | busily using my e-resources, but I'm far too knocked |
| but it's all hypothetical. I simply told my employer that | | | | out to do much more than make a cup of cocoa. But |
| I would benefit from work-based learning. My boss | | | | I sit down and force myself to work. I think of those |
| got the budget for it and we worked out that I | | | | less fortunate than myself, who've faced far greater |
| would spend more time commuting than actually | | | | challenges in going back into education, and consider |
| attending classes if I'd physically gone into a college. | | | | myself quite privileged to have my own company |
| Employers look for learning that benefits the work of | | | | pay for the course. |
| their staff, obviously, but it's a win-win situation | | | | A couple of months into the course, and so far I |
| because it increases my knowledge and skills - I hope. | | | | really can't see much of a problem with online classes. |
| My subject of online study covers sales management | | | | You get the same information either way, and |
| and marketing. The main advantages of covering | | | | although your tutor is a figure on a screen, there is a |
| these subjects in a virtual learning environment are | | | | strong sense of engagement with the subject, |
| flexibility and saving time. Because I'm going into | | | | because, after all, you are studying what you want |
| work each day anyway I'm not going to be stuck at | | | | to do. |
| home all day, and I can shift the study around my | | | | |