The Next Study Buddy

The Internet has stimulated companies to rethink how they do business and how they get, and stay, in front of customers. No longer can a company expect to be taken seriously without even a basic Web presence. One of the many reasons the Internet has become a part of everyday life is because it allows businesses and customers to connect anytime, nearly anywhere in the world.

However, corporate America isn't the only one taking advantage of operating online. In the past few years, educational institutions of all levels — grade schools through universities — have flocked to the Internet, making the most of it as a low-cost, powerful resource.

Learning Online

The Sloan Consortium (http://www.sloan-c.org), an organization committed to quality online education, estimates at least three million people learn online. Researchers also believe that number will increase each year as colleges incorporate more online courses into their long-term strategies.

Within the field of education, it's difficult to know who's driving the demand for greater Internet use: Students have come to rely on its ready access to an abundance of research information; teachers use it to efficiently distribute class materials. And, administrators now offer online applications and financial aid. The result for everyone is a streamlined method for finding and sharing information and improving the overall learning experience.

The Classroom

But David Winograd knows the Internet isn't just for cutting paperwork. Winograd teaches at York College in York, Pennsylvania, where more than 4,000 full-time and 1,500 part-time students are enrolled.

Like a savvy businessman, Winograd used a Web presence to make it easier for students (his customers) to connect with him (the business or service provider). Having created his own Web site to support his classes, many students have gone one step further — many post discussion points about class lectures and homework assignments, which encourages students to become more engaged in their educational experience.

Everyday Life

In the past decade, the Internet has become engrained in our everyday lives. It doesn't matter if you're at home, at the office or on campus, chances are you've come to expect fast, responsive connections.

The best part is that telecommunications providers are already hard at work on the next wave of technology. And that means customers of all kinds will be the ones to benefit from faster connections and new services that make interacting with others easier than ever before.

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