Online learning ‘helps teachers improve’

Posted 29 Jan 2010

Internet learning programmes, such as TEFL online courses, have been praised by Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Writing in his second annual letter for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the IT pioneer and world’s richest man said he was "optimistic" that such innovations – which are useful for teachers – will help the world to avoid climate change and mass food shortages in the coming decades through better education.

"Advances in online learning and new ways to help teachers improve will make a great education more accessible than ever," he remarked.

His comments were made following the publication of the 2009 Sloan International Survey of Online Learning, which revealed a significant increase – 17 per cent – in the number of people enrolling in internet education courses over the last year.

Earlier this month, Laurence Stybel of Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School told the Boston Globe online learning is as effective as classroom-based education.

Category: TEFL Industry