In a computer mediated environment, schools and training organizations can place educational material online for delivery to students in any location with network connectivity. Depending on the organization, topic and course, training material like downloadable videos, streaming lecture videos, electronic books and even Power Point presentations can deliver the intended message to students through computer mediated communication. In some cases, a live instructor may deliver real-time training to connected students, though the system may also record and store the training session for later delivery. Many distance learning applications also support one or more online exams that test student knowledge and ensure students fully understand the course material.
Computer-mediated communication has found a number of primary roles in training and education. A number of colleges and universities now employ computer-mediated communication to deliver college courses to students around the world, and some schools operate entirely online with no physical classrooms available. Likewise, corporate training departments have moved many of their most popular programs into computer-mediated settings. Some primary and secondary schools have also moved to a computer-mediated environment, as schools such as the Florida Virtual School can employ the technology to reach students who may be unable to conveniently receive a more traditional education.
In the early days of online training delivery, some education and training experts questioned the validity of computer-mediated education due to the challenges in monitoring student progress and ensuring professional program delivery. To resolve these concerns and provide official recognition to computer-mediated training, the United States Department of Education granted official recognition to the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a national accrediting body established exclusively to evaluate the validity of computer-mediated training programs and ensure that online schools provide quality education.
Organizations using computer-mediated communication in delivery of educational and training material can realize a number of benefits. Large organizations that once sent students to sit in a physical classroom can save significant amounts of money on travel and per diem expenses. Likewise, training organizations and schools don't require physical classrooms with overhead expenses such as electricity and water, so these organizations can pass on the savings in the form of lower tuition. Colleges and training organizations can also reach a considerably wider audience using computer-mediated communication, as students need not live close to the institution to receive the training services. Finally, students can benefit from using computer-mediated training, as some programs allow students to study and complete coursework at their own pace.
Though training and education delivered through computer-mediated communication have a number of benefits, students must keep some important considerations in mind. Because many online training programs allow students to work at their own pace, some students find that these courses require significantly more devotion and self-motivation. In addition, some traditional educational institutions may face considerable expenses when first shifting to a computer-mediated environment, as these programs often require heavy investments in servers, Internet connections and Web design.