Who is E-Learning For?
Now that we have answered the question, "What is e-learning," you might be wondering, "Who utilizes it?" E-Learning is offered for everyone, but it is very appealing for those who work full time hours, college students who work, parents who stay at home with children, and those who are considering going back to school.
Enrolling in an online course is just like registering for a traditional school; students need to go through admissions, financial aid, and counseling services. However, with e-learning there are many ways in which a student can get more information about the school, the faculty, the online class structure, etc. This is very good and important for those students who have never done online classes before.
Just like with traditional schooling, a student choses their major (if enrolling completely), as well as there classes for that term. E-Learning is increasingly very popular for those who are unable to attend a traditional classroom; full time employees can easily find time to work on homework and study without having to drop to part time hours or leave their job. Many college students find it to be an easy transition, especially if certain classes are offered only online. For those students who need to work, online learning is very appealing.
Many Baby Boomers are returning to school, either because of the recent economic woes or because it has been something they have always wanted to do. For them, the ability of going to an actual classroom may not be feasible, especially if they need to take care of young children. E-learning allows them to still go to school, while taking care of children or sick parents.
E-learning has opened the door for many people who didn't think they could go to college, as well as those who have wanted to go back to receive another degree.
Today, e-government is a system for interoperability of government agencies, citizens and businesses using information & communication technologies (ICT).
Three basic models within e-Government are: provision of public services to citizens G2C, businesses - G2B and government agencies - G2G.
e-Government philosophy is based on two things, i.e. building up the infrastructure for service delivery and services as such. Building up the egov infrastructure means the creation of infrastructure components, such as a single national database, the Certification Authority where digital signature is to be taken from, and Gateway via which a citizen will obtain a service and pay for it.
Rationale
In 2004, Government adopted NationalProgram for Building up e-government in the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2005 to 2007.
The Program implementation results were as follows:
· building up e-government infrastructure basic components;
· creation of legal framework;
· creation and evolution of government agencies’ e-services;
· improvement of citizens’ computer literacy.
In 2007, e-Government DevelopmentProgram in the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2008 to 2010, was approved, which includes such goals as:
· expanding and developing the egov basic infrastructure and access mechanisms;
· automating and integrating the processes for provision of public services that would be socially-meaningful for citizens and sought-after for businesses;
· providing legal framework for processes of informatization and public e-services delivery;
· enhancing transparency and accountability of government agencies’ activity.
Stagesindevelopinge-Government
Pursuant to strategy for e-government implementation, building up and developing e-government pass four stages.
· Stage one implies publishing and disseminating information.
· Stage two refers to provision of interactive services through direct and inverse interaction between an agency and a citizen.
· Stage three provides for transactional interoperation through executing financial and legal operations via egov portal.
· Stage four refers to forming Information Society.
Current status
Created as part of egov development Program, the e-Government Web Portal has become the single access point to informational and interactive services provided by government agencies. The first stage – informational – has already been passed. 1503 informational services were published.
To provide public e-services through the Web Portal, the software was developed for modules of integration with eWSS and national databases, including “National Land Cadastre”, “Integrated Tax Information System”, “Individuals”, “Legal Entities”, “Residential Address Registry”, “Real Estate Registry”, and database of National Center for Pension Payment.
Todayalready, any citizen in Kazakhstan may access the egov portal and be provided e-services with no direct contact with agency. To do so, he/she needs to access www.e.gov.kz. and send the digitally signed enquiry for the required abstract.
To date, 41 e-services have been implemented on the egov Portal. These are: getting an abstract of pension deduction, a SIC duplicate, an archive abstracts on acts of civil status, etc.
By late this year, 60 e-services are to be laid out, provided by such agencies as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Committee for Legal Statistics & Special Recording under General Prosecutor Office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor & Social Protection, and, in addition, citizens will be given the opportunity of paying for public services via egov Web Portal and Gateway using the second-tier banks’ debit cards.
Accordingly, the e-Government Project is migrating to the next, transactional stage in its evolution.
GLOSSARY
Bit
The smallest piece of computer information, either the number 0 or 1.
Browser
Software used to navigate the Internet. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer are today's most popular browsers for accessing the World Wide Web.
Byte
Most computers use combinations of eight bits, called bytes, to represent one character of data or instructions. For example, the word “cat” has three characters, and it would be represented by three bytes.
CD-ROM
Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. An optically read disc designed to hold information such as music, reference materials, or computer software. A single CD-ROM can hold around 640 megabytes of data, enough for several encyclopedias. Most software programs are now delivered on CDROMs.
CPU
Central Processing Unit. The brain of the computer.
Cursor
A moving position-indicator displayed on a computer monitor that shows a computer operator where the next action or operation will take place.
Data
Registered facts.
Desktop
The main directory of the user interface. Desktops usually contain icons that represent links to the hard drive, a network (if there is one), and a trash or recycling can for files to be deleted. It can also display icons of frequently used applications, as requested by the user.
Disk drive
The equipment that operates a hard or floppy disc.
Domain
Represents an IP (Internet Protocol) address or set of IP addresses that comprise a domain. The domain name appears in URLs to identify web pages or in email addresses.
DVD
Digital Video Disc – Similar to a CD-ROM, it stores and plays both audio and video
Electronic mail; messages, including memos or letters, sent electronically between networked computers that may be across the office or around the world.
Ethernet card
A board inside a computer to which a network cable can be attached.
File
A set of data that is stored in the computer.
Freeware
Software created by people who are willing to give it away for the satisfaction of sharing or knowing they helped to simplify other people's lives. It may be freestanding software, or it may add functionality to existing software.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. A format and set of rules for transferring files from a host to a remote computer.
Hard drive
Another name for the hard disc that stores information in a computer.
Hardware
The physical and mechanical components of a computer system, such as the electronic circuitry, chips, monitor, disks, disk drives, keyboard, modem, and printer.
HTML
Hypertext Markup Language. A standard of text mark-up conventions used for documents on the World Wide Web. Browsers interpret the codes to give the text structure and formatting (such as bold, blue, or italic).
Hypertext
A system for organizing text through links, as opposed to a menu-driven hierarchy such as Gopher. Most Web pages include hypertext links to other pages at that site, or to other sites on the World Wide Web.
Icons
Symbols or illustrations appearing on the computer screen that indicate program files or other computer functions.
Information
Data on persons, objects, facts, events, phenomena and processes (regardless of format) needed for decision making.