"Respondents from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ...pointed out that the key to e-learning doesn?t lie in any particular technology but in finding the right balance between the different delivery channels, or the ?blended learning? approach. (Only)About ten per cent of the students preferred to study completely online and the rest felt that face-to-face or a combination of both was more effective."New models of multi-modal distance learning are being researched and developed at The School of Educational Technology at Jadavpur. Looking across the technology gap is the instant messaging immersed generation who may raise e-student numbers significantly due to available options for technology-assisted learning. Caught in the dust of the Dragon's tail are educators seeking to learn and implement technologies that upcoming generations are already using as a part of daily routine. So, who then catches the Dragon first: the educator, driven by the demand of the savy student, or, the student who seeks out those who would teach using a new but generationally diffused technology?
The Instant Message Generation and 'Multi-Modal Distance Learning'
Distance education continues to re-define itself in the post dot-com-bomb era. Whatever moniker you choose: e-learning, virtual classroom, distance education, or multi-modal distance learning - online options for educational experiences have not gone away...different generations do, however, pose distinct perspectives on acceptance.
Todays' The Statesman includes an article by Sujata Sen, "Tech on Spec: The Internet Blackboard" that speaks of the current generation of students and what may influence future generations to engage in online learing activity: