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Academic libraries in massive open online courses (MOOCs): the challenges
No full textThe emergence of MOOCs cannot be ignored especially among academic librarians. The involvement of Librarians in this worldwide open access movement is essential to realise the democratisation of higher education. This paper describes the concept and development of MOOC in previous years. It also highlights the structure and features of MOOC. It explains the challenges and roles of academic librarians in providing the best services to the MOOC environment and community. The paper also will briefly discuss the future of MOOC and the implementation of MOOC in Malaysia and in Open University Malaysia (OUM)
Factors Affecting Knowledge And Skills Retained Among Nurses After A Neonate Resuscitation Training Programme
No full textNeonate Resuscitation Program, NRP training is given to nurses in batches. Such programs are vital because neonate resuscitation procedure or aid given to new born during delivery, help them begin breathing on their own, which can save many lives. Although such training is given to the nurses, no assessment has been done on the effectiveness of such training with regard to knowledge retention and transfer of training among the trainees.
This study is retrospective in nature; it evaluates the level of knowledge and the confidence in carrying out the neonate resuscitation procedure among 91 nurses involved such training. Besides that, the study ascertains their preparedness before undergoing the training and the opportunities provided to them to practice the skills learnt from the training at their work place. Factors that influence both their knowledge and skills after the training are also indentified.
Study sample consist of 51 nurses from hospitals and 40 nurses from health clinics. Results show that skills acquired from training as measured by their confidence at carrying out the learnt skill deteriorate faster than knowledge. Level of knowledge retained, confidence at carrying out the neonate resuscitation procedure and opportunities for practicing the skill are all significantly higher for the nurses at the hospitals compared to their counterparts in the health clinics at the 95 percent level.
The recent trainees (2009) scored higher compared to the old trainees (2007 and 2008) with regard to their preparedness or motivation before the training although memory factor could play a part here. Confidence at carrying out the neonate resuscitation procedure at the work place is a measure of the effectiveness of the NRP training because it constitutes transfer of training. Level of knowledge retained and opportunities for practicing skill at work place after the training, together with trainees' preparedness and motivation before the NRP training, all three contribute 35.7% towards trainees' confidence in carrying out the NRP procedure at their work place. Contribution of these three variables is significant at the 95% level or p< 0.05. Findings are consistent with the Model of factors that affect Learning Outcomes and Transfer of Training by Goldstein and Ford (2002). (Abstract by authors
Embedding QR codes in the teaching and learning process
Get PDFThe purpose of this action research is to explore the potentials of the Quick Response (QR) codes in mobile devices. In this
research, QR codes and the smartphones are used as teaching tools in the classroom. Quick Response codes are two
dimensional barcodes that are used to encode and decode information. These codes can contain information such as text,
URL links, automatic SMS messages, or any other information that can be embedded in a two-dimensional barcode. This
encoded data can be decoded by scanning the barcode with a mobile device that is equipped with a camera and QR reader
software. The study setting was in an open distance learning institution and almost 95 % of the students in the classroom
are working adults. Data were collected through observations and reflections from tutor and students. Almost 99% of the
students have a smartphone which improves the reliability of implementing the research. Only one tutor volunteered to
conduct the research using the QR codes. The tutor planned and prepared the appropriate content to be generated into the
two dimensional barcodes. Students used their mobile phones to scan and decode the information embedded in the QR
codes and class discussion continued from here on. Observations and reflections from tutor and the students are positive,
suggesting that QR codes have the potential to be used in the teaching and learning process. (Abstract by authors
Factors influencing attrition among learners : Faculty of Applied Social Sciences in OUM
Get PDFThis study examined factors affecting the attrition rate among learners in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution.
The main focus of the study is to explore what factors cause the attrition, and what are the best ways or strategies to
prevent the attrition rate among adult learners. There were 15 adult learners from the Faculty of Applied and Social
Sciences (FASS) at Open University Malaysia (OUM) were taken from the population of dormant learners which were not
registered for three concurrent semesters. The study found that the main factor of attrition was learners were overextended
with too many responsibilities. The three ways to prevent attrition among learners were learners’ communication,
learners’ mentoring, and learners’ awareness. It is recommended that the best practice for prevention learners’ attrition
was learner itself. This study offered two benefits, factors affecting the attrition rate among adult learners and offered some
ways in preventing attrition among adult learners from learners’ own perspective. Therefore, this study can be used as a
benchmark for the faculty to handle the attrition cases for adult learners in open and distance learning institutions. (Abstract by author
Critical Success Factors – a study of Project Management techniques using Pinto’s Model in the Malaysia housing construction companies perspective
Get PDFNon-familiarity and not being well versed with project management knowledge areas and processes, the use of project management tools and techniques, standardizations, consistency and optimization of the project management processes implementation which lead to unnecessary schedule delays, cost overruns, poor quality, overlooked risks and scope creep are among the host of issues associated with Project Management over the project life cycle. Each housing construction company strives to achieve the most efficient and effective project management processes to achieve project success and each manages project management processes differently. This study investigates the importance placed by the respective stakeholders of the construction companies in managing project management processes in housing constructions projects based on the nine project management knowledge areas and ten elements of the “project implementation profile”. Data was collected through the questionnaires where the questionnaire used the Likert Scale to evaluate the data. Due to insufficient data, interviews with relevant personnel were conducted. Based on the questionnaires and interviews, there seem to be initiatives taken by the Company in attaining project success in constructions projects. The study finds that the stakeholders and Companies are practicing Project management processes in their construction projects. It is proposed that construction companies implement, standardize, institutionalize and optimize project management processes and usage in order to avoid financial losses, cost overruns, legal disputes and other problems to increase the probability of project success. (Abstract by author
Weblog : an alternative platform to deliver formal lifelong learning
Get PDFWeblogs (or blogs) usually contain diary style content, with updates posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse
chronological order controlled by a single author. The blogs can be publicly accessed by anyone or by invitation from the
blog’s author. The content or use of a blog is the choice of the author and may include news, updates, articles, and
reflections. The small but developing literature on web logging underscores its potential as an effective learning resource
for use in higher education. Some advantages of blog for learning include assisting students to become subject-matter
experts through a process of regular scouring, filtering and posting, increasing student interest and ownership in learning,
giving students legitimate chances to participate and acculturating them into a community of practice and providing
opportunities for diverse perspectives. However, the use of the blog for formal lifelong learning is very much limited as the
open universities prefer to use their own learning management systems or other online platforms to deliver the teaching
and learning activities. This paper contributes to these discussions through a case study of the author's experience with the
on-going development of an educational blogging resource for use in an undergraduate IT subject. Using the instructional
strategy of independent study and indirect instruction to support the learner-centered pedagogies, the author believe the
elements of content, interactivity, collaboration and assessment are the pillars to make an education-based blog for adult
learners to support their self-managed learning. Detailing the theoretical aims, design, implementation and students’
evaluation of the blog, the paper puts forward the argument for the educational use-value of blogging as a platform to
support self-managed learning for adult learners in the formal lifelong learning environment. (Abstract by author
The experience if learners with disabilities engagement in lifelong learning : a case study in Open University Malaysia
No full textAccording to Tushna (2013) lifelong learning promotes personal development and leading to greater job satisfaction. With
these principles, there are various organisations particularly universities do provide lifelong learning opportunities for
people to upgrade themselves or obtain higher academic qualification. In fact, lifelong learning have been widely adopted
in many countries even within the rehabilitation context to enable people with disabilities to improve their skills and
academic achievement. It is important to note that Open University Malaysia has provided a great opportunity for people
with disabilities to further and complete their tertiary education within the lifelong learning framework through Open and
Distance Learning (ODL). The purpose of this discussion paper attempts to examine the experience of learners with
disability in lifelong learning particularly in the context of Open University Malaysia. More specifically, this paper will
address the experiences and challenges encountered by the learners with disabilities while studying in OUM. There were
21 learners with disabilities involved in the study and the data were collected through in-depth telephone interview. The
finding indicated that learners with disabilities perceived positively their learning experience in OUM. However, they
uncounted certain challenges too. (Abstract by author
Lifelong learning in reality : the perception of the community
Get PDFLifelong learning is an important part of the education system in Malaysia and has been implemented in various sectors of
the economy. It has been used as a tool to promote learning in order to transform the country into a knowledge economy.
Lifelong learning has taken various forms from formal education to informal classes, from long term to short term and
from face-to-face classes, blended classes to fully online classes. This research presents the findings from community focus
groups which were held over a few months in various locations in the country. The objective of the research was to gauge
the perception of the community regarding lifelong learning in Malaysia. Data was analysed through reduction analysis
and reported in narrative form. Findings reported differences in opinion regarding the modes of learning, the curriculum
offered, the attitudes of learners and the objective of taking up lifelong learning. Other issues brought up included the
financial aspects of lifelong learning and also the culture and values of lifelong learners. The paper concludes by giving
recommendations for improvements based on the analysis given. (Abstract by authors