Three years ago, Shafer began offering the class online. He soon discovered some interesting things about his students and his own teaching methods.
People feel much freer.
And Shafer has found the experience quite freeing for himself as well, allowing him to read student comments on his laptop on commercial breaks from his favorite television shows, or via a computer in the library near an Orlando vacation retreat. The introduction of e-learning has changed not only the way students take courses, but the very profile of students. It also has changed how material is presented and the types of markets available to colleges and training organizations. Distance education is one of the fastest-growing trends in higher education, according to the American Federation of Teachers. But Bill Scheuerman, vice president of the federation and chairman of its program policy committee for higher education, said it's important that providers do it right, and not offer classes for the sake of keeping up with their competitors.