Students world over are whole-heartedly accepting online education. The advantages of online education have made it the popular mode of education among the students of all age groups in all parts of the world. This growing popularity of online education has led to the emergence of a large number of educational institutions offering online education for a wide range of subjects. The growth of educational institutions offering relearning facilities has been significantly high in the US, Europe and the developed nations of the world.
Online Education- Changing Perception
In the past people perceived online education as an unserious and unscrupulous way of laying hands of a fast degree and getting good grades without much effort and hard work. People also had doubts about the reputation of education institutes offering online education. However, the times have changes significantly and today the majority of educational institutions offering online education are well established. Most of the world’s leading education institutions have commenced online programs, which vindicate the validity of online education. Most of the online courses offer in-depth learning to the students in their respective educational modules.
Factors Contributing To The Growth of Online Education Online education is becoming popular because most of the educational institutions offering online courses ensure qualitative learning. Talented professors and subject matter experts are at the helm of affairs at almost all accredited universities and colleges offering online courses and online degree programs. The students can be assured of good results in such courses.
Here are some factors that have contributed to the fast paced growth of online education:
- Flexible schedule
The biggest advantage of online education is that the students can do effective utilization of their time, which is the most precious resource. People participating in online education have the freedom of maintaining a flexible schedule, which helps them tremendously and it has come as a boon for the people who are working and want to continue their education.
- Student-Centered Learning
The students in online education have an advantage because they are in charge of their learning experience. The students can prioritize their schedule and complete the assignments as per their comfort levels and convenience. This is possible because the teachers in online mode of education are not teaching you all the time. As an online student, you have the liberty to select the mode of learning.
- Fair Playing Field
Online education is growing in popularity because it offers a level playing field to all the students. When you are learning online, your performance is the only criterion that affects the decision-making and your gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, and other considerations do not cloud the decision making process. This is one of the major factors contributing to the growth of online education.
All these advantages of online education may prompt you to join e learning. However, before you take the plunge and enroll in an online course, please make sure that you are familiar with the methodology of online education.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
E-Learning and the Younger Generation
When I think about e-learning, I tend to first think about applications for college-level courses and corporate training applications. However, e-learning is catching on in all types of educational settings.
While working on a project for one of my clients, I came across information about an organization called Time 4 Learning, that specializes in e-learning applications for K-12 education encompassing the areas of language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Time 4 Learning’s products are designed for use as part of a comprehensive home school curriculum, as well as for after-school and enrichment learning.
It makes sense e-learning is an excellent tool for engaging children in active learning. As adults, e-learning is still new to us. That is why we look at e-learning and compare it to traditional learning. Traditional learning is only traditional because it is what we know.
When I was a kid, watching Sesame Street on television was a multi-media learning experience, and looking up something in the encyclopedia meant getting World Book down from the bookshelf. To the school-age children of today, Wikipedia may be the only encyclopedia the ever encounter, and television certainly isn’t multimedia.
It’s interesting to realize that to the generation that is school-aged now, e-learning won’t represent a radical deviation from traditional learning at all.
Just something to think about as we’re deciding to resist or adopt technology.
While working on a project for one of my clients, I came across information about an organization called Time 4 Learning, that specializes in e-learning applications for K-12 education encompassing the areas of language arts, math, science, and social studies.
Time 4 Learning’s products are designed for use as part of a comprehensive home school curriculum, as well as for after-school and enrichment learning.
It makes sense e-learning is an excellent tool for engaging children in active learning. As adults, e-learning is still new to us. That is why we look at e-learning and compare it to traditional learning. Traditional learning is only traditional because it is what we know.
When I was a kid, watching Sesame Street on television was a multi-media learning experience, and looking up something in the encyclopedia meant getting World Book down from the bookshelf. To the school-age children of today, Wikipedia may be the only encyclopedia the ever encounter, and television certainly isn’t multimedia.
It’s interesting to realize that to the generation that is school-aged now, e-learning won’t represent a radical deviation from traditional learning at all.
Just something to think about as we’re deciding to resist or adopt technology.
History Of Elearning - A Brief History Of E-Learning And Distance Education
E-learning is a very broad term. It is used to describe any type of learning environment that is computer enhanced. There are multiple technologies that can be employed in E-learning. It has become one of those types of words that are so general as to have lost some of its meaning. Distance learning is something that has evolved from Elearning. It is used to describe a learning environment that takes place away from the actual traditional classroom and campus.
E-learning began at just about the same time that a computer was developed that was practical for personal use. In fact, the concept and practice of distance learning predates the computer area by almost 100 years. In England, in 1840, shorthand classes were being offered by correspondence courses through the mail. The improvements to the postal service made this method of distance learning popular in the early part of the last century. This led to a large number of ?through the mail? type of educational programs. The computer only made distance learning easy and better. Television, video recorders, and even radio have all made a contribution to distance learning.
E-learning and distance learning are not quite the same thing. The basic thing that distinguishes distance education is the physical separation of the student from the instructor and the class room. E-learning, however, became part of the classroom environment from the beginning. The early use of computers was geared to help the classroom instructor. Gradually, as more and more personal computers became available, the idea of online classes was explored by some pioneering Colleges and Universities. The early attempts at distance education were hampered by resistance from traditionalist within the education field.
Some invoked what they called the philosophy of education to demonstrate that the teacher was essential to the educational process. This resistance led to the early online degrees being considered inferior to traditionally obtained degrees. This prejudice extended to the personal departments of major employers. When choosing between two otherwise equally qualified applicants, preference was shown to the person holding the traditional degree. In recent years this has changed drastically. The improvements in E-learning technology and the ability to create virtual classrooms and a virtual learning environment (VLE) has gradually broken down the resistance. This process has been helped by the emergence of a new generation that was weaned on the computer. It would not be surprising if within another generation, the pendulum shifts completely and the online degree is the one that is respected and coveted.
Natalie Aranda writes about learning and technology. E-learning is a very broad term. It is used to describe any type of learning environment that is computer enhanced. There are multiple technologies that can be employed in Elearning. It has become one of those types of words that are so general as to have lost some of its meaning.
E-learning began at just about the same time that a computer was developed that was practical for personal use. In fact, the concept and practice of distance learning predates the computer area by almost 100 years. In England, in 1840, shorthand classes were being offered by correspondence courses through the mail. The improvements to the postal service made this method of distance learning popular in the early part of the last century. This led to a large number of ?through the mail? type of educational programs. The computer only made distance learning easy and better. Television, video recorders, and even radio have all made a contribution to distance learning.
E-learning and distance learning are not quite the same thing. The basic thing that distinguishes distance education is the physical separation of the student from the instructor and the class room. E-learning, however, became part of the classroom environment from the beginning. The early use of computers was geared to help the classroom instructor. Gradually, as more and more personal computers became available, the idea of online classes was explored by some pioneering Colleges and Universities. The early attempts at distance education were hampered by resistance from traditionalist within the education field.
Some invoked what they called the philosophy of education to demonstrate that the teacher was essential to the educational process. This resistance led to the early online degrees being considered inferior to traditionally obtained degrees. This prejudice extended to the personal departments of major employers. When choosing between two otherwise equally qualified applicants, preference was shown to the person holding the traditional degree. In recent years this has changed drastically. The improvements in E-learning technology and the ability to create virtual classrooms and a virtual learning environment (VLE) has gradually broken down the resistance. This process has been helped by the emergence of a new generation that was weaned on the computer. It would not be surprising if within another generation, the pendulum shifts completely and the online degree is the one that is respected and coveted.
Natalie Aranda writes about learning and technology. E-learning is a very broad term. It is used to describe any type of learning environment that is computer enhanced. There are multiple technologies that can be employed in Elearning. It has become one of those types of words that are so general as to have lost some of its meaning.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Calon SPM dihad ambil 10 subjek
Oleh AINOL AMRIZ ISMAIL
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, kerajaan telah memutuskan calon Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) mulai tahun depan tidak lagi boleh mengambil lebih daripada 10 mata pelajaran.
Menurut Timbalan Perdana Menteri, perbincangan mengenainya telah dibuat di peringkat Kementerian Pelajaran dan keputusan itu juga sekali gus membawa perubahan dalam sistem penggredan mata pelajaran.
"Kita akan mengehadkan 10 subjek sahaja untuk peperiksaan SPM pada tahun 2010 dan kementerian perlu membuat beberapa perubahan dalam penggredannya,” ujarnya.
Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas majlis peletakan batu asas Kompleks Pendidikan Bandar Enstek, Nilai dekat sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor; Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan dan Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pelajaran, Tan Sri Zulkurnain Awang.
Beliau yang juga Menteri Pelajaran memberitahu, berdasarkan keadaan semasa, jumlah pelajar yang mengambil lebih 10 subjek pada peperiksaan SPM tahun lalu cuma 48,000 berbanding 500,000 yang mendudukinya seluruh negara.
"Cuma 10 peratus yang mengambil lebih 10 subjek. Kita percaya dengan perubahan ini, 90 peratus pelajar yang kekal dalam 10 subjek atau kurang akan memperlihatkan angka yang sama tahun ini.
"Perkembangan ini sudah tentulah memberikan impak positif dalam kaedah pengajaran guru di sekolah kerana mereka boleh menumpukan khusus kepada 10 subjek berkenaan.
"Selain itu ia juga mengurangkan kos kepada ibu bapa yang terpaksa menghantar anak mengikuti kelas tuisyen kerana pengajaran dalam subjek pilihan tidak dibuat secara konsisten di sekolah,” kata beliau.
Muhyiddin juga menjelaskan, ketika ini kekemasan pelaksanaan peperiksaan 10 subjek dalam SPM itu sedang diperincikan oleh pegawai di kementerian berkenaan.
"Memang sistem penggredan akan berlaku perubahan dan kita akan melihat kemungkinan pelajar mendapat A+, A atau A- atau B+, B mahupun B- bertambah ramai.
"Ini akan diperhalusi kerana ia juga akan melihat kaedah terbaik dalam pemberian biasiswa kepada pelajar yang cemerlang dalam subjek terbabit. Ia akan dilakukan dengan sebaik mungkin,” kata beliau.
Semalam Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong berkata, sekumpulan ahli akademik dan profesional telah memulakan kajian terhadap cadangan kerajaan untuk mengehadkan jumlah subjek yang boleh diambil pelajar dalam peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
Menurutnya, kajian itu yang dijalankan atas arahan Timbalan Perdana Menteri akan melibatkan semua aspek.
Antara aspek yang dikaji ialah perbandingan tahap kecemerlangan pelajar termasuk mengkaji apakah pelajar yang memperoleh 21A itu cemerlang, tetapi mereka yang skor A dalam semua sembilan mata pelajaran yang diambil tidak cemerlang.Dalam kajian yang dibuat itu juga, kementerian tersebut ingin mendapatkan kepastian tujuan sebenar pelajar berkenaan mengambil lebih daripada 10 subjek dan rasionalnya mengambil subjek bertindih dan skor A.
Beliau seterusnya mencadangkan dana asing ditubuhkan menerusi sumbangan wang oleh syarikat-syarikat mega kepunyaan bukan Melayu yang mendapat kontrak daripada projek-projek kerajaan.
Ketua Umum, Badan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM), Osman Abu Bakar pula menyokong pemberian biasiswa JPA berdasarkan meritokrasi dengan pembahagian 60 peratus kepada bumiputera dan 40 peratus kepada bukan bumiputera.
Menurutnya, rasional pengagihan dengan kadar itu ialah orang-orang Melayu masih ketinggalan dalam bidang pendidikan berikutan pencapaian ekonomi keluarga yang masih rendah.
Katanya, calon yang mempunyai keupayaan menyeluruh sebagai kriteria layak menerima biasiswa tidak perlu diwajibkan sebaliknya yang penting pelajar Melayu berpeluang melanjutkan pelajaran menerusi biasiswa.
Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad selaku Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) pula berpandangan, pemberian biasiswa cara meritokrasi adalah cara terbaik.
Bagaimanapun tegasnya, kuota biasiswa untuk bumiputera seperti yang diperuntukkan dalam Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Malaysia tidak perlu disentuh.
Dalam pada itu beliau bersetuju kriteria pemberian biasiswa berasaskan keupayaan menyeluruh pelajar kerana kini 10 peratus aktiviti kokurikulum juga jadi penentu pelajar memasuki institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT).
GPMS dalam perkara ini katanya selalu menasihati pelajar mengambil peluang tersebut untuk melayakkan mereka ke IPTA.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, kerajaan telah memutuskan calon Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) mulai tahun depan tidak lagi boleh mengambil lebih daripada 10 mata pelajaran.
Menurut Timbalan Perdana Menteri, perbincangan mengenainya telah dibuat di peringkat Kementerian Pelajaran dan keputusan itu juga sekali gus membawa perubahan dalam sistem penggredan mata pelajaran.
"Kita akan mengehadkan 10 subjek sahaja untuk peperiksaan SPM pada tahun 2010 dan kementerian perlu membuat beberapa perubahan dalam penggredannya,” ujarnya.
Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas majlis peletakan batu asas Kompleks Pendidikan Bandar Enstek, Nilai dekat sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor; Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan dan Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pelajaran, Tan Sri Zulkurnain Awang.
Beliau yang juga Menteri Pelajaran memberitahu, berdasarkan keadaan semasa, jumlah pelajar yang mengambil lebih 10 subjek pada peperiksaan SPM tahun lalu cuma 48,000 berbanding 500,000 yang mendudukinya seluruh negara.
"Cuma 10 peratus yang mengambil lebih 10 subjek. Kita percaya dengan perubahan ini, 90 peratus pelajar yang kekal dalam 10 subjek atau kurang akan memperlihatkan angka yang sama tahun ini.
"Perkembangan ini sudah tentulah memberikan impak positif dalam kaedah pengajaran guru di sekolah kerana mereka boleh menumpukan khusus kepada 10 subjek berkenaan.
"Selain itu ia juga mengurangkan kos kepada ibu bapa yang terpaksa menghantar anak mengikuti kelas tuisyen kerana pengajaran dalam subjek pilihan tidak dibuat secara konsisten di sekolah,” kata beliau.
Muhyiddin juga menjelaskan, ketika ini kekemasan pelaksanaan peperiksaan 10 subjek dalam SPM itu sedang diperincikan oleh pegawai di kementerian berkenaan.
"Memang sistem penggredan akan berlaku perubahan dan kita akan melihat kemungkinan pelajar mendapat A+, A atau A- atau B+, B mahupun B- bertambah ramai.
"Ini akan diperhalusi kerana ia juga akan melihat kaedah terbaik dalam pemberian biasiswa kepada pelajar yang cemerlang dalam subjek terbabit. Ia akan dilakukan dengan sebaik mungkin,” kata beliau.
Semalam Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong berkata, sekumpulan ahli akademik dan profesional telah memulakan kajian terhadap cadangan kerajaan untuk mengehadkan jumlah subjek yang boleh diambil pelajar dalam peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
Menurutnya, kajian itu yang dijalankan atas arahan Timbalan Perdana Menteri akan melibatkan semua aspek.
Antara aspek yang dikaji ialah perbandingan tahap kecemerlangan pelajar termasuk mengkaji apakah pelajar yang memperoleh 21A itu cemerlang, tetapi mereka yang skor A dalam semua sembilan mata pelajaran yang diambil tidak cemerlang.Dalam kajian yang dibuat itu juga, kementerian tersebut ingin mendapatkan kepastian tujuan sebenar pelajar berkenaan mengambil lebih daripada 10 subjek dan rasionalnya mengambil subjek bertindih dan skor A.
Beliau seterusnya mencadangkan dana asing ditubuhkan menerusi sumbangan wang oleh syarikat-syarikat mega kepunyaan bukan Melayu yang mendapat kontrak daripada projek-projek kerajaan.
Ketua Umum, Badan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM), Osman Abu Bakar pula menyokong pemberian biasiswa JPA berdasarkan meritokrasi dengan pembahagian 60 peratus kepada bumiputera dan 40 peratus kepada bukan bumiputera.
Menurutnya, rasional pengagihan dengan kadar itu ialah orang-orang Melayu masih ketinggalan dalam bidang pendidikan berikutan pencapaian ekonomi keluarga yang masih rendah.
Katanya, calon yang mempunyai keupayaan menyeluruh sebagai kriteria layak menerima biasiswa tidak perlu diwajibkan sebaliknya yang penting pelajar Melayu berpeluang melanjutkan pelajaran menerusi biasiswa.
Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad selaku Timbalan Presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) pula berpandangan, pemberian biasiswa cara meritokrasi adalah cara terbaik.
Bagaimanapun tegasnya, kuota biasiswa untuk bumiputera seperti yang diperuntukkan dalam Perkara 153 Perlembagaan Malaysia tidak perlu disentuh.
Dalam pada itu beliau bersetuju kriteria pemberian biasiswa berasaskan keupayaan menyeluruh pelajar kerana kini 10 peratus aktiviti kokurikulum juga jadi penentu pelajar memasuki institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT).
GPMS dalam perkara ini katanya selalu menasihati pelajar mengambil peluang tersebut untuk melayakkan mereka ke IPTA.
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