FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND LANGUAGES

SEPTEMBER (SEM 1) 2015

OUMH1103

LEARNING SKILLS FOR OPEN DISTANCE LEARNER

MATRICULATION NO : 950328125931001

IDENTITY CARD NO. : 950328125931

TELEPHONE NO. : 0146577220

E-MAIL : janeeriowilster@yahoo.com

LEARNING CENTRE : Sandakan Learning Centre

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Course Guide Page Number

Activity 1 1-2

Activity 2 3-4

Activity 3 5-10

Activity 4 11

Bibliography 12
Activity 1

In this 21st century, learning becomes more efficient because of excellent improvisation
of getting information especially the internet. People easily access the internet to get relevant
information. As the Open University Malaysia department had done, they had provided their
students learning resources and services to improvise the students in many aspects. I do agree
with the statement saying that students can be improvising because of the facility that the OUM
provide.

Firstly, learning resources help students to minimize their time to find information. For
instance, students easily access the internet to get information from other people all over the
world. Besides, presence of the Digital Library that students can access through the myVLE
would give so much benefit. For example, the students can find articles, books and also journals
for their assignment writing.

The learning resource improves research skills of the students. It is because, students are
exposed to the assignments making that required them to access the internet personally or in
groups. In fact, students would use the popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, and
Ask that gives different experience in searching information for certain tasks. Therefore, students
able to improvise themselves in getting idea form the internet in appropriate ways through
ongoing experiences.

In addition, students are encouraged and learn with self-confidence on certain topic
through interaction with multiple resources. As a result, students will leisure in learning because
they are able to understand topic easily with many reference to do their works. Besides, students
have the opportunity to compare the best ideas among all. Next, students will not spend much
time with their friends to discuss certain topic on a subject because they have many learning
resources that can help them in learning the subject and subsequently master it.

As a conclusion, the learning resources and services give much benefit. Students will
have the integrity to study with much facility that helps them to score in both examinations and
the making of assignments. Besides, their academic performance would increase and they can

1
make a better life in the future. Learning resources help student improve their research skills and
build up self-confidence.

2
Activity 2

Nowadays, many universities in Malaysia offers open distance learning for people who
are working that want to further their studies to get advancement in their work. For instance,
Open University Malaysia, offer distance learning for those who are working and those who do
not have the opportunity to go and study full time just like the normal university does. In fact,
this program might find interesting for some people but, it has its own consequences. So, what
are the problems faced by the students who take this open distance learning?

Firstly, students find it very difficult to manage their time wisely. For example, students
who had family, they have to divide their time with the study and their family. So, they will get
distracted by other things and cannot give full attention to their study. For working students, they
are busy at the working place that disables them to focus on their study.

Furthermore, open distance learner also faced interactivity problem. Students are mostly
lack of face-to-face with their friends and teachers. Unlike, the students who study full time they
always communicate with their teachers and friends to create good relationship. However,
students with part time study have slightly problematic compare to normal university students.
Learning resources are incorporate interactive tools may cause students to feel isolated and
become discouraged in their study.

Plus, students tend to procrastinate their works or assignments. Most students who study
this program are working. So, they do not have enough time to focus on their study because they
had another works to do at workplace. As a result, when they get home late at night, they are
already tired and cannot continue to do their assignments and think that there is another day to do
them.

Not only that, open distance learner also face financial problem. In some cases, students
who study this program would have much to support for example like their family, pay their car,
water bill, and electricity bill. So, for some reasons they do not have much money to support
their study fees too. If this happen, students would feel stress and thinking of dropping their
course.

3
 In conclusion, although the open distance learner students do not have to hassle of
dealing with overflowing parking lots, rushing to classes, or fitting classes into the current work
schedule, yet there are still problems that encounter in their study. When taking this open
distance learning, students must have a self-discipline and motivation so they could ever face any
challenges that encounter them.

4
Activity 3

5
6
7
8
9
10
Activity 4

The Open University Malaysia had created myVLE or also known as my Virtual
Learning Environment which students can only access it through online. It has been created to
register the information regarding performances.

As my experience of using myVLE, at first time login, find it quite difficult to make use
of it. Then, I had to register my selected username and password for the security matter. I find it
very useful because it had its own importance. Basically, through myVLE we can access directly
to our own profile, registered courses, announcement, email, our own timetable and much more.

Besides, with myVLE we can download the assignments that help save time instead of
copying it. Plus, myVLE had provided various type of learning resources. For example, it has e-
Gate, MeteorLive, Math Resources Centre and OER that help. Most importantly, myVLE had
Digital Library which provides various reading material such as books, journals, articles,
newspapers, Novels, and magazines which is very useful in our research and the making of the
assignments. In fact, we can also borrow books or novels from the Digital Library.

As a conclusion, I found that myVLE is very useful in our study. It gives many benefits
that help us especially in our study and academic performance.

11
Bibliography
Chung Han Tek, Huam Hon Tat, Hazidi Abd Hamid et al. (2014). Learning skills for open
distance learners. Malaysia: Centre for Instructional Design and Technology open
university Malaysia.

Kaur, A. P.-Q. (2007). Learning skill for distance learners: Providing 21st learning support. 21st
AAOU Annual Conference. Kuala Lumpur.

Kuhltau, C. (1985). School Library Media Quarterly. A process to library skills instruction, 13/1,
35-40.

Ramli Bahroom, L. A. (2006). The impact of "Learning Skill For Open Distance Learners".
Course on Learner Attitudes Towards E-Learning.

Attri, D. A. (2012). Distance Education: Problem and solutions. International journal of

behavioral social and movement science, vol 1.

Bootle, D. B. (2005). Evaluation of a Distance Learning, Post Graduate Advanced Award in

Social Work Programme for Child and Family Social Work Supervisors and Mentors.
Social Work Education: The International Journa, Volume 24, Issue 3.

Kumar, S. (2015, July 10). How To Overcome 5 Common Problems Faced By Students In
eLearning. Retrieved November 9, 2015, from eLearning Industry:
http://elearningindustry.com/5-common-problems-faced-by-students-in-elearning-
overcome

Rice-Linn, P. (2011, 22 1). Problems Faced by Open Distance Learners. Retrieved november 9,
2015, from Bright Hub Inc.: http://www.brighthub.com/education/online-
learning/articles/104046.aspx

Sherry, L. (1996). Issues in Distance Learning. International Journal of Educational

Telecommunications, 1 (4), 337-365.

12
13