Online course open up possibilities

Massive Open Online Courses are changing traditional education, experts said.

Huang Ronghuai, professor of educational technology and knowledge engineering with Beijing Normal University, said at an academic forum in Beijing on Thursday that the courses provide learners access to world-known professors anytime and anywhere with a professional production team.

"Learners no longer have to be college students. Their knowledge source is never limited to textbooks, and attending professors’ lectures is not the only method of learning anymore," Huang said.

According to Huang, digital technology is playing an increasing role in changing the pattern of higher education.

Steven Furnell, head of the School of Computing and Mathematics of Plymouth University, said at the forum that China has become the second largest user of such online courses, accounting for 13.7 percent of the global market. The USA ranks first.

The forum, organized by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy and the National Academy of Education Administration, aimed to bring together education leaders, researchers and distance learning experts to exchange ideas and share experiences.