For techno-phobes, the thought of taking a couse on the internet must seem like a nightmare, but for many people, it is the perfect way to fit further education into their lives. The list of things you can study online are virtually limitless, with traditional subjects such as languages, sitting happily besides more unusual topics such as holistic therapy and forklift truck driving.

Unlike traditional face-to-face learning, online study means that you have the flexibililty to fit learning around your lifestyle. People with childcare commitments or full-time jobs, who may find it difficult to get back into education, can study at their own pace from the comfort of their own home.

But although there are lots of positive reasons to study online, there are a few negatives and many people say that they miss the interaction between their fellow students as well as direct contact with tutors. It can also be hard to drum up the motivation to put in the work, although having said that, self-discipline and motivation are important to the success of any kind of study.

The one other gripe people tend to have about online learning is the frustration of having to rely on technology. Computer breakdowns and network crashes are all problems that crop up from time to time but, on the whole, the convenience of having all your resources, information and support on hand at any time can make these small problems worth the trouble.

Because of the growing popularity of online study, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is conducting a research project to find out how effective it is. They are keen to hear about the experiences - good and bad - of people who have chosen to study online so future students can benefit.

Lisa Englebright, part of the NIACE research team, said: "This is the first generation of learners who have studied online. For NIACE, it's both interesting and important to find out what the benefits are and what the drawbacks have been. We want to hear your stories, whether they have been positive or negative. Perhaps your online course led to a better job or new career? Or perhaps you couldn't complete your course because it wasn't suitable or didn't have the computer hardware to commit to it fully. Whatever your experience, we want to hear from you to help with our research."

Lisa and the NIACE research team hope this research will help secure the future of online learning. "Once we've got our findings we hope to be able to increase the understanding of providers and decision makers about online learning," she explained.

"This will ensure that steps are taken to improve on what's available and help more learners take advantage of the flexibility of learning in this way.