From social networking to news coverage, the Internet is changing every aspect of modern living – including learning!

Some people might laugh when you say that the Internet is the teaching tool of the future, but last month, the Open University announced it had become the first university in Europe to reach more than one million active subscribers through the iTunes U App. That’s an incredible figure and shows that the demand for online learning, particularly in this country, is not to be underestimated.

The Open University has had more than 50 million international iTunes U downloads and its YouTube series on how to learn English in 10 minutes has just been recognised at the British Universities Film and Video Council’s Learning on Screen Awards. The video clips are narrated by the Radio 4 presenter and talk show host, Clive Anderson, and are highly recommended! If you have got 10 minutes to spare, do give them a try!

It’s not hard to see why so many people prefer to use the Internet as a learning tool. As the price of technology comes down and high-speed broadband becomes the norm, it is easier to stream videos, share files and talk with tutors, particularly on Skype. People also like e-learning because it is convenient and can be scheduled around their daily routines. It doesn’t require the time or the expense of travelling to a college or conference centre. You also do not have to put up with someone setting the fire alarm off at five o’clock in the morning, which always seems to happen when you stay somewhere overnight!

One of the latest developments in online learning is the webinar, which is short for web-based seminar. You can log in, see a presentation streamed over the Internet and ask questions, which can then be answered live and all from the comfort of your own computer. Last week, Learning Plus UK ran its first ever webinar, which looked at how to use our tracking and monitoring tool, which was a tremendous success, and we have two more planned for this term. The feedback was really pleasing, with teachers saying how much they valued the chance to understand how to track performance at post-16 all in the comfort of their own school! They particularly liked the chance to chat with other teachers and our Learning Plus UK experts to really get to grips with how the tool can help target support and intervention and ultimately raise achievement.

Our next webinar will take place on Thursday, June 14 at 4pm and will be on making the most of your Datadashboard. We will also be holding another one on Thursday, July 12 at 4pm on sixth form leadership. Both sessions will be 30 to 60 minutes long, so make sure you log in promptly!

The webinars will be uploaded to our website once they’ve been edited! Do keep checking into www.learningplusuk.org to see what’s new.

To sign up to one of these webinars, email office@learningplusuk.org at least one week before the events are due to take place. Our office will then send you full details on how to log in and take part.

We look forward to seeing you online and if you have any suggestions for future webinar topics, do let us know!