ead the essay carefully and find:a)

ead the essay carefully and find:
a) a definition
b) an example
c) a generalisation
d) a phrase expressing cause and effect
e) a passive
f) a phrase expressing caution
g) three synonyms for internet-based teaching


Introduction
Since the late 1990s internet-based teaching (also known as e-education) has emerged as apotential rival to traditional classroom learning. The former normally involves having access to asecure site on the internet where a graded series of lessons is available, which haveassignments sent and returned by email. Although online courses are now offered by manyinstitutions, it is by no means clear that they offer real advantages compared with classroomeducation. Little research has been done so far on their effectiveness, but this essay sets out toexamine the arguments on both sides and attempts to draw conclusions from them.
The benefits of online study
Two main advantages of internet use in education are put forward. Firstly, it is seen as moreeconomical, in that once a course is prepared, it can be used by large numbers of students.The savings made by not having to employ so many teachers should be reflected in cheapercourse fees. The second benefit is convenience; instead of having to attend classes at fixedtimes and places, students are free to study when they choose and progress at their own pace.Furthermore, in studying from home there is no need to travel to the college or university, whichsaves both time and money. A student living in a small town in China, for example, can nowstudy a course at an American college without the worry of travelling, accommodation orhomesickness.
The continuing popularity of classroom education
Despite the considerations mentioned above, classroom learning shows no signs of beingreplaced by e-learning. It seems that face-to-face contact with a teacher is still regarded as thebest way for students to make progress, despite the expense and inconvenience involved. Notonly the personal contact with a teacher but also the support and encouragement gained frombeing part of a class may be reasons for this. Membership of a group may also create a usefulspirit of competition, which stimulates learning.
Discussion
Given the increasing pressure on university places in many countries, internet-based teaching iswidely seen as a convenient development. However, e-learning eliminates personal contact andtravel from education, which are possibly the aspects many students value. Sitting at homeworking on a computer may be economical, but clearly cannot replace the social experience ofattending courses. However, there are many people who are unable, through either work orfamily commitments, or owing to lack of funds, to go to classes, and who would clearly findinternet learning beneficial. Online courses can also be used to support taught courses, forinstance by providing access to extra materials. In many ways these kinds of courses aresimilar to ‘universities of the air’, such as Britain’s Open University, which have developeddistance learning so successfully in the last forty years.
Conclusion
Faced by growing demand for university places, many institutions are likely to develop onlinecourses, but the apparent benefits of e-learning may be less than first appear. Students seem tovalue the personal contact of the classroom highly, despite its cost and inconvenience. Theremay be a role for internet-based courses to supplement teacher-taught ones, and certainly forpeople with other commitments they will be the only practical option. There is an urgent needfor research on the effectiveness of this type of learning, which in the future.
should help maximise its advantages