READING
Read the text and
complete the following tasks.
In tasks 1-5 choose
one correct variant A, B, or C.In 1997, when the Internet started to find its way into Australian households, only 16.4 percent of the population utilised it, mostly for things like email communication or hotel bookings. In 2018, Internet usage in Australia hit an all-time high of 88 percent, with 69 percent of the population using social media. Australians are following the rest of the world by investing time and money in online education. Amy Porterfield, one of the world’s leading online course creators, believes there are a few factors that contribute to a record number of people signing up for online courses.“Number one: the easy use of technology. It’s getting easier and easier, and all generations are starting to participate,” she says. “Also, the fact you can do anything from your home is astonishing, and that is becoming mainstream.”Catherine Toms, a founder at Smithfield Digital, believes that the shift in technology is largely responsible for the influx of online courses. “The advantage the non-certified courses have is the ability to be agile. I’m constantly updating materials to reflect the latest changes and tools. If you’re learning something created even one or two years ago, it’s likely things have evolved and you’re not up to date with the best practice.”One of the most common criticisms thrown at the e-learning and online course environment is the idea of students being taught subject matter by people with minimal or limited qualifications or experience in that field. The online course model can be utilised by anyone, anywhere, with a low barrier to entry. Another attack critics have on the flood of online courses is that many would-be students purchase on impulse, lured by strong Facebook advertising or enticing webinars. Having been disappointed by the actual program content, students end up dropping courses.