• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, December 30, 2001

A recent summary by E-Marketer, reporting on a survey released by SBC Internet Services, showed that more than one-half of Internet users value the net as the best resource for learning and information. Books are a weak second, with only 19% of respondents accessing bookshelves before they turn to the Internet.

Importance of Media as Learning or Information Resource for US Adult Internet Users
(% of Internet Users) September, 2001

  +------------------------+-----+  | Internet               | 53% |
| Books                  | 19  |  | Television             | 14  |  | Newspaper & Magazines  | 10  |  | Radio                  | 2   |  +------------------------+-----+  

One-half of respondents ages 25 to 44 referred to the Internet as "their library," compared to 41% of adults ages 18 to 24. Ten years from now, those surveyed expect the Internet to be used first and foremost as an education tool. Only 3% say the net's greatest value will be for e-commerce.

Forecast for Internet Primary Purpose in 2011 (%of Adult Internet Users)

  +-------------------------+-----+  | Education and Training  | 45% |  | Communication           | 36  |  | Medicine and Healthcare | 7   |  | Entertainment
| 3   |  | Shopping                | 3   |  | Politics and Government | 2   |  +-------------------------+-----+  

The eMarketer's eStat Database shows that, from 2000 to 2001, traditional instructor-led training decreased by about the same amount that use of e-learning courses increased.

Methods Used by Business to Train Employees (% of Respondents)

  +---------------------------+-------+-------+  |                           | 2000  | 2001  |  +---------------------------+-------+-------+  |
Instructor-led courses    |  65%  |  57%  |  | E-learning courses        |  16   |  24   |  | Text-based books/manuals  |   7   |   6   |  | CD-ROM/diskette           |   6   |   6   |  | Videotape
|   3   |   2   |  | Satellite Broadcast       |   2   |   2   |  +---------------------------+-------+-------+  

Find out more here.