Microsoft invests in e-learning

Microsoft's top executive Jean-Philippe Courtois has met with Thailand prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to confirm the multinational's commitments to continued e-learning investment in Thailand, states The Nation Technology.

The commitments discussed with the prime minister included a five-year extension of the Partner e-learning project, a re-training project involving two million unemployed workers in Thailand, and a three-year joint research and development project with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre.

Under the Partner e-learning project, the company will extend what is normally a five-year project for an additional five years, from 2009 to 2013. Microsoft will provide computer and software-skills training for two million unemployed workers in Thailand, at local communities throughout the country.

Synergis Engineering Design Solutions, a division of Synergis Technologies, has released its Web-based learning system that gives design engineers access to the latest training videos, tutorials and demos for Autodesk software, says PR News Wire.

Synergis e-Learning was developed to supplement hands-on training, increasing knowledge retention, while maximising Autodesk software.

"With the current economic conditions, learning is essential for sustainability and professional growth," says Kristen Tomasic, vice-president of Synergis Engineering Design Solutions. "Synergis e-Learning is an affordable solution to help increase the productivity of your design staff with learning videos that can be accessed anytime, anywhere."

The US state of Florida will make it mandatory for every school district there to start providing a 'virtual school' for kindergartners through eighth grade, giving parents a choice of letting their children attend classes and take tests via computer over the Internet, says PC World.

The state already funds the Orlando-based Florida Virtual School which last year was used by more than 63 000 middle and high school students with special needs.

About four million college students are said to be currently enrolled in fully online courses.