Ecomm blogger

Electronic learning, known as E-Learning is a term for all types of technology-enhanced learning , where technology is used to support the learning process. Often the medium of instruction is through computer technology, particularly involving digital technologies. It does not require any face-to-face interaction throughout the learning process. It has been implemented by several colleges and universities in Malaysia, such as Open University Malaysia, Multimedia University, University Tun Abdul Razak and so on.

There are ample of PROS can be derived from e-learning:

1) Ease of Accessibility
E-learning has shown its great advantages through its accessibility to all students irrespective
of their residence. It help students to communicate with their lecturers and tutors, get clarifications regarding their subjects and study and access teaching materials through Internet. What you need is just have a computer and a line connectivity.

2) Flexibility
Another advantage of e-learning is its time flexibility. Students may be able to get online resources and communicate with his lecturers, tutors or classmates at anytime, anywhere, even during midnight as the resources can be access for 24*7*365. Despite, students can arrange their timetable according to their own time when he or she is available.

3) Low Cost
E-learning has been becoming more and more popular among students because 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 several CONS in implementing e-learning too:

1) Lack of Communication
Lack of face-to-face communication with lecturers and tutors leads to a lack of understanding between a student and a tutor. While a tutor 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.

2) Language Barriers
The extensive use of English in e-learning contents is also one of the factors that has hindered the success of e-learning. this is obviously occur in Malaysian universities, especially to the student who is weak in English, they need to refer to a dictionary whenever they are learning. This may cause the student to loss interest in studying and become lazy and unmotivated.

3) Bandwidth Issue and Connectivity
E-learning requires a rich combination of multimedia components.However, due to bandwidth and connectivity limitations, downloading of the e-content to the students will be slow. This creates frustration and boredom among students and affects the ease of learning. This issue happens in most of the Malaysian universities regularly.

Related links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_learning

http://asiapacific-odl2.oum.edu.my/C33/F80.pdf

http://writingandsnacks.blogspot.com/2006/08/pros-and-cons-of-e-learning.html

Prepared by Chong Hui Qi'