E learning offered in Malaysian universities: pros and cons from student perspective

Electronic learning (or E-Learning ) is a term for all types of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), where technology is used to support the learning process. Often the medium of instruction is through computer technology, particularly involving digital technologies. In some instances, no face- to- face interaction takes place. E-learning is used interchangeably in a wide variety of contexts. Lately, in most Universities, e-learning is used to define a specific mode to attend a course or programs of study where the students rarely, if ever, attend face-to-face for on-campus access to educational facilities, because they study online.

E-Learning lessons are generally designed to guide students through information or to help students perform in specific tasks. Information based e-Learning content communicates information to the student.
E-Learning can provide for major benefits for the organizations and individuals involved.

E-learning strategies that have been introduced into Malaysian public universities since 1996. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) are the two Malaysian public universities planned to introduce e-learning strategies into their undergraduate programs. This analysis uses some 25 interviews with the teaching and administrative staff at UKM and UTM. A critical view of the problems that these universities face in implementing their vision statements is also presented. However, testing the vision statements against the experience and opinions of teaching staff is a significant task, because ultimately it is the teachers who will drive the e-learning strategies. If teachers are not supportive of these programs, e-learning will struggle to become established.

Pros and Cons of E-Learning
E-learning has shown its great advantages through its accessibility to all students irrespective of their residence. E-classes help students to communicate with their tutors, get clarifications regarding their subjects and study and access teaching materials through e-libraries. Universities and colleges which provide online degrees involve more and more electronic facilities to give their online students fast and qualified assistance. Students’ interactions have become much easier than face-to-face communication!

Another advantage of e-learning is its time flexibility. One can get online resources, communicate with his tutor or class mates, send his query and write term paper at any time he can get access to the Internet.

E-learning or networked learning has been becoming more and more popular among students living in developing and undeveloped countries. They can afford getting higher education degrees at respectable universities and colleges by saving extra expenses for traveling, accommodation, food and high fees for tutors. E-learning can offer such students much easier and affordable way to get a good education and a prestige higher degree.

However, there are still a few disadvantages in e-learning which are enough obvious to be omitted in this article. Lack of face-to-face communication with teachers contributes lack of understanding between a student and a teacher. While a teacher cannot easily feel a student’s demands, interests and motivations, a student can simply be lazy being non-motivated enough and having free time schedule for his e-learning. This may result a low scope of the student’s knowledge and the teacher’s accusation in lack of proficiency. Next, online classes, conferences and discussions are limited in time and totally exclude emotional interactivity. Though some universities and colleges which provide online courses and give online degrees evolve voice communication through networking technologies there is still lack of gestures, vivid dialogue and feeling of your interlocutor’s presence.

E-learning as it looks today leaves so many questions and demands regarding its improvement as it gets benefits. However, its fast growing shows a great future for online degrees. One of the most influential things which stimulate e-learning development is globalization through the Internet. The globalized world of computer technologies accepts people of different cultures irrespective of their origin, boundaries, genders, races, ages and sexes. E-learning has become an integral part of this e-world and welcomes everybody who has willingness to learn and get higher education.

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E-Government in Malaysia : Its implementation so far & citizen's adoption strategies

The Electronic Government initiative in Malaysia was launched in 1990-an by introduce Malaysian Government Portal (http://www.malaysia.gov.my/) to lead the country into the Information Age. It has improved both how the government operates internally as well as how it delivers services to the people of Malaysia. It seeks to improve the convenience, accessibility and quality of interactions with citizens and businesses; simultaneously, it will improve information flows and processes within government to improve the speed and quality of policy development, coordination and enforcement.

The vision of Electronic Government is a vision for government, businesses and citizenry working together for the benefit of Malaysia and all of its citizens. The vision focuses on effectively and efficiently delivering services from the government to the people of Malaysia, enabling the government to become more responsive to the needs of its citizens.

Government to Citizen

Electronic Services (E-Services)

E-Services is one of the pilot projects under the Electronic Government Flagship within the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) initiative. With E-Services, one can now conduct transactions with Government agencies, such as the Road Transport Department (RTD) and private utility companies such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM)
through various convenient channels such as the eServices kiosks and internet. No more
queuing, traffic jams or bureaucratic hassles and one can now conduct transaction at one’s own convenience.

The 7 pilot projects of the Electronic Government Flagship Application are as follows:
(1) Project Monitoring System (SPP II)
(2) Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)
(3) Generic Office Environment (GOE)
(4) Electronic Procurement (EP)
(5) Electronic Services (E-Services)
(6) Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX)
(7) E-Syariah

Example: Inland Revenue Board (IRB) of Malaysia’s provided e-Filling services that allow the submission of Tax Return Forms electronically via internet. It is a totally free service. Until 30 June 2009 record, IRB report that 1518378 malaysian are use e-filling to submit their tax report. Compare to 30 June 2009, only 216527 malaysian report their tax through e-Filling. It shows that increase 31% of malaysian are using e-Filling.

Government to Business

E-procurement

An electronic procurement system, which enables suppliers to sell goods and services to the Government through the Internet. Suppliers “open shop” on the World Wide Web, advertise their goods, present their pricing, process orders and deliveries.
Objectives:
Enables accountability and transparency
• Creates more skilled and knowledgeable workforce
• Equips the workforce with the latest technology at minimum cost

Government to Government
Project Monitoring System (SPP II)
Online system that monitors the entire lifecycle of national programs.Example: project application to approval to implementation, mid-term review and completion.

Example:

Iskandar malaysia ; Iskandar Development Region (IDR)/South Johore Economic Region(SJER)

• establish in southern of johore on 30 July 2006


• The project is administered by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and is named after the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Iskandar.


• The development region encompasses an area about twice the size of Singapore, including the city of Johor Bahru and towns of Pontian, Senai, Pasir Gudang and the construction of a new administrative capital in Nusajaya.


• 14 target projects


• until 2 July 2009, launched 14 project (100% launched) & attract 41 billion investment


• website : http://www.irda.com.my

(sources:http://www.chinapress.com.my/,www.malaysia.gov.my,http://www.irda.com.my/)

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Corporate Blogging: A new marketing communication tool for companies.

Corporate blogging is publishing blogs to reach its organizational goals. "Blog" is another name for post. Blogs in the corporate level has 2 different category. Internal and external blogs. The name speaks for itself, right? Internal blogs are blogs meant for the corporation's internal use only. Internal blogs are like intranet of the corporation. But since intranet is available, why do an organization need an internal blog?

A blog comes easy with commentaries as well as graphical depicts such as photos and videos. When using a blog, employees can view the weblog and allows anyone to post on it. It informally increases employee's participation in giving feedback, voicing complaints and well as giving suggestions to matters they do not dare to comment on when face to face with authority. There's also a sense of community.

An external blog is a blog that is open to public. The term public means that everyone and anyone can view the weblog. The point of "anyone and everyone" actually refers to customers. As blogging is becoming more popular, it can help spread attention very quickly. As long as you have interesting stuff updated to your blog, you can attract traffic faster than the work hour. Besides that, a blog I suppose is rather less messy and easier to read than a website or some flyer.

A blog doesn't need to be sold hard like other promotional efforts do. The point I want to make is that blogging does not need to be sold only as a way to have a conversation with your readers, customers and clients. As if an interaction of the business with it clients, on its newest promotion like a friend telling his friends what are the new fashion or trends available.

The primary purpose of a business is sales. And every marketing tool should support that purpose. I now have proof that blogging does, when done correctly and when our posts serve our reader's wants and needs, the basic foundation of all marketing and branding efforts. Furthermore, it is easy to manage, maintain and update your blog compared to a website.

A successful example of corporate blogging: Tenji Japanese Buffet Restaurant

(Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_blog
http://www.mpdailyfix.com/)

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Review on a post on Legal from My E-Commerce Blog

Copyright infridgement! Does this word sound familiar to you? The majority of our people here, (can't deny) loves musics and movies to name a few and buying the original copy of it ain't cheap. It cost around RM 50-RM80 in average for a single original piece of DVD. Instead of forking out money to purchase, it can be downloaded from several sources in the internet.

The unlawful downloading of copyrighted material and sharing of recorded music over the Internet in the form of MP3 files is more prominent now than since before the advent of the Internet or the invention of MP3 files. The truth is out there, promotional screener DVDs distributed by movie studios (often for consideration for awards) are a common source of unauthorized copying when movies are still in theatrical release. It is so cliche.

Not to mention, the evolving of technology has create a massive impact towards society. Have u been hearing of fraud commited through the website 15 to 20 years ago? It all increasingly happen since the beginning of the 21st century and it's getting worst.

Issues about legal rights also arises. Take Starbucks for example. In 1990, Starbucks has entered into the Chinese market but encountered a major problem there- an imitator by the name of Shanghai Xing Ba Ke coffee shops (loosely translated as Shanghai Starbucks). Due to the legal lawsuit filed by Starbucks, a Chinese court ordered the imitator to pay Starbucks RMB 500,000 (approximately RM 250,000) for copying Starbucks name and logo.

Now, it is our responsibilities to curb this silent crime and countries such as The Solviet Union, the USA, China and also Eastern Europe has collaborated to fight this activity.

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