SFCC invests in e-learning courses

South Florida Community College (SFCC) is investing in innovative e-learning technologies, Newssun.com reports.

Webmaster at the educational facility and director of its Educational Technology Center Melanie Jackson told the news source the number of students at the college involved in online learning courses rose by 44 per cent between 2009 and 2011.

The amount of e-learning programmes provided by SFCC expanded by one-third over this timeframe to accommodate the rise, she continued.

In 2003, only three of its courses were available over the internet, but in 2011 this figure was 180.

Currently, people at SFCC can complete associate of applied science, associate of science or associate of arts degrees entirely over the web.

The startling heightening in provisions reveals the popularity of e-learning, Ms Jackson said.

Online learning enables teachers to present education in new ways, increases the accessibility of academia and allows students to understand information with a wider variety of methods, occasionally from the comfort of their own homes.

The news source claimed the "revolution of online learning" could be the biggest alteration to education since writing and reading replaced the Socratic tool of discussing things face-to-face.

Ms Jackson told the publication: "Technology moves quickly. The only constant in our world is change. Google has gone from being a noun to a verb."

However, she argued virtual learning environments are "not for everyone".

Persistence, good time-management skills and discipline are needed for e-learning to be successful, the expert continued.

Students nowadays have different brains than learners did in the past, Ms Jackson remarked, pointing to studies that appear to show interactions with the television, video games and computers, as well as the rise of text messaging, have changed the neuron structures of the young.

SFCC also wishes to create a "unified digital campus" in the future, she declared.

Pupils, administrators and faculty staff requiring assistance in e-learning can speak to the Electronic Learning Department at the college, which provides training and multimedia resource development skills.