Bates recommends that options such as colour text, diagram, picture, and concentrated text capabilities be considered, as well as the cost involved with each. The other aspects are interactivity, the ability to handle either concrete or abstract knowledge, and how well they support androgogical learning. All of these criteria can be met in differing degrees on the Internet, depending on the site, and at minimal cost. Again, distance education on the Web has the capacity to furnish the learner with these technological capabilities. The Web can provide differing degrees of interaction and user-friendliness, depending on the preference of the individual and the style of learning, whether it be formal or informal.
Learners can also submit assignments, tests, and presentations for upload as they are completed.
This is a result of a great deal of preparation time and team work. Clearly, the Web is already providing outstanding instructional material, and with further advances in technology, this is where we may someday be doing the majority of our learning. Bates speaks to the criteria of novelty mostly in terms of organizational goals, but for the learner, novelty can certainly play a role in the decision to enroll in a particular course. New technologies can provide extraordinary opportunities for learners to broaden their scope of knowledge and skill. The novelty of the Internet creates a motivational environment that promotes self-directed learning whether it be formal or informal.