1359 research outputs found
Sort by
Effects of thermal radiation in a thermocapillarity thin film flow on an unsteady stretching sheet
Get PDFThis paper examined the effects of thermocapillarity and thermal radiation on the boundary
layer flow and heat transfer in a thin film on an unsteady stretching sheet. The governing
partial differential equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations by a similarity
transformation and hence solved by using Homotopy Analysis Method. The effect of thermal
radiation is considered in the energy equation and the variations of dimensionless surface
temperature as well as the heat transfer characteristics with various values of Prandtl number,
thermocapillarity number, radiation parameter are graphed and tabulated.(Abstract by authors
Development of High Performing Academics: The Importance of Leadership in Private Higher Education Institutions
Get PDFSince the enactment of the Private Higher Education Institutions Act in 1996, private higher education in Malaysia has progressed into a competitive and fast-paced field. Remaining relevant in such an environment calls for dynamism, attention to quality and producing concrete results, particularly from the academic perspective. The development of high performing academics in private higher education is vital because academic excellence provides a critical indicator of the success and quality of the institution, thus bearing an influence on how the institution is perceived by its clients and the public at large. This is also important as a way to enhance the institution’s competitive advantage and thus, improve its brand as an education provider. In private higher education, successfully developing high performing academics significantly hinges on academic leadership. Leadership influences various elements of the university, from its institutional values, to human resource practices, work culture and also its relationship to various stakeholders. Ensuring that academics can perform well will require a leadership approach that can promote a conducive environment for academics to grow and evolve, while at the same time, serve as a role model that adheres to the beliefs and values of the institution. This presentation will discuss academic leadership as a means to develop high performing academics in private higher education institutions. This presentation will also explore the current private higher education scene in Malaysia and focus on the importance of high performing academics in achieving university excellence. (Abstract by author
The Virtual Classroom: A Catalyst for Institutional Transformation
No full textThis study explores the use of the virtual classroom which has been created in "myVLE", a learning management system used by the Open University Malaysia (OUM). The virtual classroom in "myVLE" is an asynchronous-based online learning environment that delivers course materials to learners and provides collaboration and interaction using an asynchronous-based forum as the main platform to support the learners' independent study. It also provides a learning environment with learning tools, learning materials, opportunities for contextual and collaborative discussions, and individual learning and assessment. OUM uses this virtual classroom to deliver the subject "Object-Oriented Programming" (CS1) and in this paper the impact of this delivery system is explored. The study aimed to elicit students' perceptions of the virtual classroom, based on their learning experiences, how well it supported their self-managed learning, and their personal preference for this compared with face to face interactions. Findings obtained using a questionnaire indicated moderate responses (average value for the items was between 2.0 to 3.6 on a five point Likert scale) for the use of the virtual classroom, and some possible reasons for this are discussed in this paper. (Abstract by authors
Agency and the Pedagogy of Japanese Colonialism in Tan Twan Eng's The Gift of Rain
No full textWhat is the location of agency? And to what extent do historical contingencies and other causalities set the limits of self-autonomy, particularly during the time of Japanese colonialism? This article critically examines how these questions are explored in Tan Twan Eng's novel, The Gift of Rain, essentially the protagonist's autonarrative. Reading the text beyond its popular and authorial representation, and teasing out its homoerotic kernel, I make a case against the protagonist's romantic displacement of agency to the transcendental heart, arguing that Philip Hutton, the protagonist, is in the final account not only far more unfree than he believes, he is also much freer than he knows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
The Role of Motivation, Attitude, Anxiety and Instrumental Orientation in Influencing Learner's Performance in English as a Second Language in OUM
Get PDFThe objective of this research is to determine the relationship between the various
socio-psychological variables like attitude, motivation, anxiety and instrumental orientation
on performance in English as a second language. An impact study of each of the variables
on learners' performance was also carried out in order to elucidate the variable that is most
significant. A survey methodology was used, in which 757 out of the 2016 questionnaires
were used. The results indicate that all the four variables were significantly correlated with
learners' performance in the English course conducted at Open University Malaysia (OUM).
The regression analysis showed that all the variables except for personal motivation exert
significant impacts on performance with anxiety having a negative impact while attitude and
instrumental orientation having positive impacts. Several implications were discussed and
some recommendations were put forth, taking into consideration the open and distance
learning environment at OUM. (Abstract from authors
The Development of Learning Object Design System (LODS) for Instructional Designers
Get PDFThis project intended to build a platform for Instructional Designers (IDs) to analyse the content
and document their inputs on the content analysis. The purpose of the system is to aid IDs in the
process of content design and produce an efficient design plan for learning objects using
technology, in this case Learning Object Design System (LODS). LODS is a system where the
instructional designer record the findings from content analysis (learning outcome, scope of
content, cognitive level of content, content structure, summary) as well as learning design
attributes for the particular learning object (instructional approach, content presentation
method, learning activities, assessment method). The system was initiated due to the absence of
standardised procedures in the beginning phase of the learning object design which is content design. This is a case study involving interviews with experts and literature reviews to derive the
attributes for the content analysis process. A set of guidelines was developed which highlighted
the steps in analysing the content. These guidelines were then transformed into a Learning Object
Design System (LODS). LODS enable the IDs to record, save, retrieve and print their input on
the content analysis findings. The LODS is expected to aid the IDs in the decision making process
as it provides step-by-step template with options. The documentation will become as easy as
filling in forms as they would be automatically formatted into one standard version. LODS is
expected to speed up the content production and simplify the IDs’ current work process. For
further research, it is recommended to make the LODS as collaborative platform between IDs
and SMEs to enhance the quality of learning objects. (Abstract from authors
The relationship between persistence, academic engagement and academic achievement among post graduate students of OUM
Get PDFSelf directed and self manage learning is one of the pillar for lifelong learning. Learners’ stamina
to sustain as self directed learners is vital for their academic success. This paper examines the
association between persistence, academic engagement, and academic performance among
post graduate students in an Open and Distance Learning Institution. The logistic regression
was used to model the relationship while the Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) curve was used
to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the predictive model. In this cross sectional a total of
390 students enrolled in various Master degree programs at OUM answer a self administered
questionnaire. Academic performance was compared with students’ perceived engagement in
academic activities, and persistence in studies.
Among the significant predictors of academic performance are classroom and cognitive
emphasis (components of engagement), and academic integration, service satisfaction,
academic conscientiousness and degree commitment (components of persistence). Students
with favorable ratings on their academic engagement and persistence in studies tend to do
better academically. The statistical model predicting these relationships is 83.33% sensitive and
91.04% specific. Using student engagement and persistence as predictors of academic
achievement would enable the academic institutions to identify ‘at risk’ students much earlier
compared to using CGPA. (Abstract by authors
Supporting online learning through web based initiative
Get PDFAs IT permeates deeper and deeper into our lives, online learning is now a viable option for many. Gone are the eras where owning a computer is unthinkable of for the masses and handlings of computers are left to the experts. Most people nowadays own a computer in one form or another. With the rapid advancement in IT and high broadband usage, opportunities to continue learning and to upgrade oneself are now becoming more attractive and possible through ODL institutions. While the main focus for many online institutions is to provide reliable and adequate technical infrastructure to ensure smooth delivery of contents and to ensure the incorporation of e-learning features into their pedagogy, many miss out on the need of a good support system to scaffold learning. OUM is open to change and willing to try out new ideas for the sake of its learners. PAQEES was developed as an experimental one stop portal to support online learning ecosystem for a (selected) programme. It consists of seven components that are accessible 24/7 to its learners. Components are created based on learners’ feedback and are designed to provide learners with rich user experience to facilitate and provide an even richer learning environment. With this learning support system in place OUM hopes to take e-learning in Malaysia to a notch higher. (Abstract by author
Towards Excellence in Higher Education –The Experience of Open University Malaysia (OUM)
Get PDFWith the advancement in communication technology via the Internet and World Wide Web,
attention has been drawn to Open Distance Learning (ODL) as an alternative mode for
teaching and learning. In Malaysia, OUM is well acknowledged as the pioneer for ODL
education. OUM has placed great effort in leveraging ICT aimed at making higher education
more accessible and affordable across the country. This paper will discuss how OUM has
contributed towards the democratisation of higher education in Malaysia. The paper will also
examine OUM’s delivery of online teaching and learning using the My Virtual Learning
Environment (MyVLE)
Delivery of Full Online Programmes: Opportunities, Issues & Challenges
No full textThe 21st Century is witnessing an increasing number of full online programmes, particularly at the graduate level. It may appear to be advantageous to both the institution and the student as one way to leverage on technologies. However, there are issues as well as challenges when implemented. The Open University Malaysia, for example, has been offering the Master in Instructional Design and Technology (MIDT) since 2009 and had its first group of graduates in 2010. The MIDT program has facilitators residing in different countries and students have come from more than ten different countries. Supported in part by the Commonwealth of Learning, it is the first full online programme from a Malaysian institution. The panel will address opportunities, issues and challenges with full online programmes in general and the MIDT program in particular. In addition, the challenges faced in terms of multi-cultural issues will also be dealt with (Authors' abstract