Beyond an institutionalized learning environment: fostering interactions and learning using synchronous and asynchronous messaging systems

A need for educational opportunities that transcend constraints in geography, time and resources is being answered increasingly by distance education. The widening access to educational opportunities gives people relative freedom to pursue professional and personal growth and development in modes that suit their needs. In the workplace, competition has become stiff with information, knowledge and skills we possess fast becoming obsolete and redundant. Retooling and reorienting oneself to remain relevant is now the call of the times. More and more people are therefore seeking opportunities to educate themselves and distance education has provided a viable option to pursue educational goals with minimum sacrifice. Public interest in such a mode of teaching and learning has expanded both in terms of program offered and enrolment numbers. The choice of delivery media is also increasing with the use of information communication technologies such as audio, video, electronic mail, the Internet and the creation of platforms and interfaces to host online learning environments, among others (Reyes, 2003; International Telecommunication Union, 2002). These developments aim to improve student learning.

,

Education ,

E-learning ,

Distance Education ,