Industry News

Demand for Online Learning is Growing

According to a USA Today story (11/28/07), 20 percent of the 17 million college students in the United States say they have taken at least one online course.

According to a 2007 Sloan Survey, there were almost 3.5 million students enrolled in online courses in the fall of 2006-2007. The survey also reports an average annual growth of 21.5 percent for the last five years.

With all this continued growth, many businesses are starting to take a closer look at using online programs to train their people. "Even Baby Boomers are comfortable with computer technology," says Amy Murphy, director of Corporate and Community Services for Joliet Junior College. "Over the next 10 to 15 years, people of all ages will be looking for more online instruction."

Taking an online course is not for everyone, however. It requires some discipline on the part of the student. "This is not for sissies," says Michael Lambert, an executive with the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). "It's for really strong, self-starting people." The DETC is an educational association and a nationally recognized accrediting agency.

To learn more about online learning, contact Joseph Giunta at jgiunta@jjc.edu, or call him at (815) 280-2729.

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