Students in cyberville

London: The makers of web-browser Firefox are working on a system which will allow internet users to stop themselves from being tracked online.

MSruthy Natarajan (10) lives in Singapore and takes singing lessons in Chennai three times a week without having to leave her room. A little over a decade ago, this would have seemed far-fetched but thanks to high speed Internet connections, the old rules about mutually exclusive life choices no longer apply. A sales executive with no writing experience doesn't need to give up his fantasy of becoming a novelist, and a techie who's relocating to California can continue her violin classes in Mylapore.

Varying cost

Online modules on everything from creative writing to the performing arts are available at a click and the cost ranges from zero to expensive depending on what you're hoping to accomplish. While some of these programmes are fixed, with virtual classrooms and homework, and result in a degree being awarded at the end of the course, others involve private tutors giving customised lessons. A third kind and perhaps the most recent is P2P or peer-to-peer education that is provided free of cost by instructors who want to hone their teaching skills.

Says Paromita Pain, a Texas-based journalist and veteran of online writing courses: “Online education is taken seriously both by employers and academic institutes. For those looking to continue education or just be more disciplined about an interest, nothing beats lessons delivered online”. She adds that people who use the Internet for learning need to stay motivated if they want to get the most out of their experience. “The absence of a teacher doesn't mean that it's okay to fall back on homework. Your teacher might be a virtual one but the courses are designed and administered by highly qualified individuals who are usually university level or high school teachers”.

Violinist and vocalist Palghat T. R. Rajaram, who has been teaching Carnatic music through Skype since 2003 feels that it is almost identical to a face-to-face class. He reveals that his students do their ground work before each new session and that virtual pupils too become proficient enough to perform in public.As for learning portals, the biggest advantage is that it begins with a simple Google search and doesn't require a major lifestyle change, like taking a sabbatical, relocating or factoring in an hour-long commute to an already over-extended day. There are also no age barriers, and for those who are looking for skills that have unpredictable paths, it is a relatively low-risk experiment. Since it does involve expending considerable time and energy, it's important to choose a course after careful research and invest in the process as though it were happening in a brick-and-mortar setting. “Look for educational portals helmed by universities and organisations of repute” says Paromita. “Even with these courses, research them and check out their real value. An expensive course or big brand name doesn't necessarily mean it is suitable.”

The only dampener is that Internet education is still in a developing stage and doesn't have something for everyone just yet. Sunil Thomas, a mid-level retail manager tried unsuccessfully to find a course that did not require him to be online at a specific time. “I wanted something on retail management that had a forum for discussion with peers. I just wanted a place where I could access study material at times convenient to me. I scoured the Net for a basic course but wasn't impressed with what I found,” he says. Further, for individual sessions like those needed for performing arts, many teachers with rich experience are yet to become comfortable with technology. Until they warm to the idea of virtual lessons, potential NRI students have no choice but to wait and watch.

Mind-boggling array

While the web is awash with a mind-boggling array of choices, it isn't hard to navigate it, as there are thousands of strangers who are willing to listen and give advice without judgment. For insights and answers, check out forum.thegradcafe.com. If you are not particular about getting a degree but just want to brush up your knowledge in a certain area, visit p2pu.org where all educational material is available without charge and course organisers volunteer their time on an honorary basis. The founders have this to say in their FAQ section — “Studying is free”.

In a society that's yet to warm to the concept of a gap year at any life stage, e-learning is a great way to pursue a dream without letting go of conventional paths — all it takes is a steady broadband connection, and an eye on the prize.

BEFORE YOU SIGN UP WITH AN EDUCATION PORTAL

•Determine the primary goal – is it to acquire a new skill, supplement your résumé with a formal degree or explore an alternative career?

•Reputation of the host university or organisation, reviews from alumni

•Course fee (if any) and time commitment including follow-up work, for programmes with fixed durations

•Features like flexi-time and self-paced learning.