At the 18th International Council for Distance Education World Conference held at Penn State this summer, Penn State President Graham B. Spanier stated that the growth in knowledge has fueled an overwhelming need for lifelong education in order for people to keep current and remain competitive. Even night classes require a time commitment many full-time workers don't have available. Students enrolled in the World Campus use an access account to review Web-delivered course materials and return completed assignments to their instructors. In addition to the capability of reaching people of all ages and encompassing complex work routines, enrollment for certain World Campus programs will cross national and geographic barriers.
Many people consider the possibility of additional education sometime during their lives.
Some of them may not have had the opportunity to finish college, and want to finally get that B.A. Mid-career professionals may need to add a master's degree or doctorate to the resume to help advance their careers. And nearly everyone feels the pressure to keep up with the ever-increasing stream of technical updates required on the job and in daily life. Using today's electronic communications technologies, we can design methods for people to build relationships and collaborate over great distances, and at their own individual times. The goal is also future-oriented, added Marilynne W. Stout, Senior Instructional Designer, Educational Technology Services, Center for Academic Computing. It isn't easy for a group of students with diverse schedules and work obligations to find a common time to meet.