Delivering in E-commerce world

A discussion on E-learning offered in Malaysian universities: Pros n Cons from the students perspective

July 12, 2009 at 00:25 (week 6)

E-learning

• a term for all types of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), where technology is used to support the learning process

• It involves the use of a computer or electronic device (e.g. a mobile phone) in some way to provide training, educational or learning material

• include Web-based learning, computer-based learning, virtual classrooms and digital collaboration

Pros of e-learning

Time flexibility

• Students can get online learning material, interact with tutor/classmates, send the assignment or query at anytime via Internet
• students can save time and much easier to communicate with classmates/tutor rather than face-to-face communication
  
• Students who work part-time jobs can learn when they free as e-learning can be fit into their busy schedule
  

Accessibility

• Students’ learning option are not constrained by geographic location (easily access to the resources upload by foreign university through e-libraries)
  
• Student can easily get their leaning resources with the use of internet by just staying at their own house
  (without physically present in a university)
• reduce the cost of travelling, and also time of travelling to university

Cons of e-learning

Isolation

• Students may feel isolated and unsupported while learning
• Students can simply lazy being non-motivated enough because of  having free time schedule for his e-learning
• Students may also become bored with lack  face-to-face interaction

Computer skills needed

• It is not possible for the students to succeed in E-learning without computer skills (with programs such as word processing, internet browsers)
• E-learning needs student to understand managing computer files, software comfort ability, learning new software
  
• For students with beginning level computer skills, it can sometimes seem complex to keep their computer files organized

For more information about e-learning, visit the site:

Journal for online learning and teaching- http://jolt.merlot.org/vol3no4/abstracts.htm

advantages and disadvantages of e-learning- http://www.dso.iastate.edu/asc/academic/elearner/advantage.html

students’ view on e-learning at UTM- http://elearn1.utm.my/09101/file.php/1/response/index.html