The advent of the internet has changed the learning landscape of college students since the first inception of a revolutionary breakthrough in education, E-learning. Students of the information age can now go for a different kind of academic instruction, foregoing the traditional classroom, and opting for courses which necessitate a computer and internet connection as an initial requirement. In response to the growing demand for such an alternative form of learning, colleges and universities have birthed the entirely new concept of the open or online university, wherein students enroll and study either entirely online, or they are offered the best of both worlds, a learning hybrid which accommodates the convenience of e-learning and the practicality of traditional classroom instruction. E-learning is a versatile form of education, and there are numerous ways of going about the concept. The following are just a few of the currently available means of electronic instruction, this promising field is sure to broaden as the medium opens up new developments and opportunities for alternative instruction.

With asynchronous instruction, the students are educated online, and the interaction with instructors is done on occasion, usually for the purpose of progress evaluation. The student is virtually working at his or her own comfortable pace, in order to meet flexible deadlines as set by the instructor. Self-paced online courses, or those which are gained through CD-ROM educational aids, are examples of such a method, as well as Question-and-Answer mentoring, and email or online discussion groups.

Distance education courses are granted by fulfilling prescribed credits; the instruction may be delivered off-campus through audio-video streaming over the internet. Classes in this manner may be held with all students simultaneously or otherwise, and may include time in-campus for activities requiring hands-on experience, such as laboratory exams.

Electronic learning courses entails that instruction is delivered over the internet, via intranet or extranet connections, through audio or audio-video tapes, by satellite broadcast, and using interactive television or educational supplements like CD-ROMs. This affords student the convenience of learning, even from remote locations.

Mobile learning courses are gained with the use of educational content and information which are either downloaded to or playable on audio or audio-video mobile devices like Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs, MP3 players, and smartphones.

Online education is essentially based on credit-granting courses which are delivered primarily over the internet, to a class of students in different remote locations. This method of instruction may be done with all students in simultaneous attendance, or each student may receive occasional one-on-one follow-up instruction. The course may also necessitate that the class meet with their instructor for specific lecture sessions, laboratory activities, and examinations.

With synchronous instruction, the class is instructed in real time over the internet; this method requires that all students are logged on to the scheduled online learning session simultaneously, so they can post questions, answer queries, and interact with the instructor and each other, similar to a traditional classroom conditions. This method may be done through an online chat room, through teleconferencing or by videoconference. The class may share online methods for mutual instructions such as a whiteboard, a communal desktop, or shared applications.

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