Online learning enhances success - JACQUES ROUSSEAU, Mail and Guardian

Fears of the ‘digital divide’ are unfounded: a blended mode has proven itself to students. The online mode is arguably a far more natural environment for a student in the 21st century than sharing a room with 400 other students. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds sometimes perform better through online learning, because they can study when they want to and how they want to. This revelation has led to a suite of online courses, launched last month by the commerce faculty at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Called Across Africa, this is an initiative that will allow students from across Africa to earn UCT qualifications by the blended-learning mode – a combination of face-to-face and online instruction. Across Africa is a partnership with GetSmarter, an online education company that works with both universities and industry. The company has developed an immersive and pedagogically rich virtual learning environment that, when paired with UCT’s content and quality assurance, ensures the highest-quality online education. http://mg.co.za/article/2014-09-08-online-learning-enhances-success