Design And Implementation Of A Student Chat Information System

C.    Video: This is the ability to see and hear an instructor through different devices like phones, computers and so on. Video techniques for distance learning are often characterized by the transmission media. Digital video conferencing uses computer at another site resulting in a two-way video and audio communications and even internet video conferencing.
D.    Computer Technology: With the increased popularity of the internet, computer technologies are receiving more and more attention as a means of delivering distance courses. The computer technologies make use of the following: E-mail, Internet forum and so on.
i.    E-mail: Sending messages in an inexpensive and faster way, which may include attachments files such as PDF (Portable Document Format) and other multimedia elements that will facilitate communication for students’ learning. In some cases, an entire distance learning course may be structured using e-mail as the only effective method of distance communication while others may include packages suit as Microsoft and the like.
ii.    Internet Forum: Online chat forums refer to a two- way interactive exchange on the internet. In the chat mode, two or more students at remote computers connect to the same chat “room” and exchange
messages. It allows students and lecturers to communicate in real time. Also, as an enhancement to education, lecturers can locate relevant websites for students to explore or have students conduct searches for information related to a specific topic.
2.7    Chapter Summary
Today’s workplace requires that individual students create and collaborate within the constraints of time and place. These needs have given rise to technological advancements that allow real-time communication among students who are connected over the internet.
The 21st century learners require educational opportunities not bound by time or place, yet allows interaction with the instructor and students. Voice and video conferencing, live presentation tools, chats and emails are just a few of many  tools  available for  interaction  and  collaboration.  Researchers  and practitioners  are  recognizing  emerging  technologies  as  powerful  tools  for building strong interaction in learning environments (Bruns and Plumphreys, 2005). The demand for distance learning will continue to grow. This ever evolving nature of technology will continue to push distance educators to use new tools to learning environment that indeed prepares students to be long-life learners who can solve problems through collaboration.