Mr. Michael Horgan:

Given my experience of online learning under the surgical training programme, we were probably about six to eight years too early in terms of broadband speed to really make a bang. In 2001 and 2002, when online courses became available, one did not have the same broadband speeds; there were ISDN lines and dial-up systems. Downloading graphics took a long time; however, at the time we conducted research into how individuals learned. The aim was to include it in the structure of the programme. There have been enough developments both on the IT side and on the broader networking side that the issue of research into educational development probably needs to be looked at again. Technology has become part of everyday life. No matter where one goes, somebody has a mobile phone and he or she will know how to use a tablet and if he or she knows how to use a tablet, he or she will know how to use a PC. Technology is now way beyond what used to be the barriers to online learning. I suspect that funding for educational research will have to increase to meet the next wave of technology to apply education to real life.