Internet Based Learning

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Hi readers!

The growth in the Internet has now make e-learning becomes more interesting and unique in term of the deliverance of information. There are several important criteria in using e-learning and one of the most important is the deliverance of information via a computer with the use of Internet access and so on. It is not easy to create a web-based learning.

Web-based learning also known as online learning is where a server or the host of the computer is connected to the World Wide Web (WWW). Basically, the whole deliverance of information is through the use of high technologies tool like electronic hardware and also the use of software. People can always get their education online as long as the host of the computer is linked to the World Wide Web (WWW). It is not easy to create an e-learning website because in order to create good websites, programmers, professional instructors and other professional people need to cooperate with each other to manage the website. If the e-learning website clashes and instructors do not know what is the problem, they need to contact the programmers to fix the website. Not only that, instructors need to make the e-learning education to be as interactive as possible in order to grab the attention of the viewers. People will not want to access to the e-learning website if the whole learning process is not interactive.

Reference:
-definingelearning, Internet Based [Online], Retrieved on Friday, 28th of February 2010
URL : www.skagitwatershed.org/~donclark/hrd/elearning/define.html

Poll of the week 5 & 6 : How to make e-learning interesting?

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Poll of the week 5 & 6: How to make e-learning interesting?

Basically, e-learning is one of the interesting ways for people to study because nowadays, in our new generation all the people are hoping to try something new as in using e-learning to teach students. So, how to make e-learning interesting?

Based on this week poll result, we have 14 respondents. 7 voters, 50% of the respondents voted on adding mini games such as quizzes and another 7 voters, 50% of the respondents voted on others as their answer. Other then that, none of the respondent voted on add attractive visual interface because most of their computers could not support flash. So, if they want to view it they have to install or update flash on their computer and sometime the updates will clash their computer if they did not update it properly.

Now, we are talking about the 50% of the respondents who voted for adding mini games as in quizzes in this poll question. Mini games is one of the interactive feature that can be added in e-learning. The purpose of adding mini games is to let students to answer the quizzes based on what they have learned and to test them whether or not they understand the particular chapter. Besides that, it is not necessary must be quizzes, it also can be some cross words puzzle. This mini game can help them to brainstorm how to solve the questions. For example, the Sudoku game, it is a game that helps the students to train their math and thinking skills. Sudoku game can help the students to think about strategies and solution. This will make their thinking skills to grow better.

Not only that, another 50% respondent voted others because some of the students probably preferred to have videos and pictures together with mini games at the same time. Besides, they probably also thought of adding more information on the particular topic.

Traditional way of learning vs e-learning II

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Hi readers!

Did you read the previous post on the differences between traditional way of learning and e-learning in term of the convenience factor? Click here if you have not read it.

So, today's post will be on the comparison of the cost between traditional way of learning and e-learning. According to our research, we found that e-learning is much more affordable than the traditional way of learning. Why do we say so?

Traditional way of learning

For those IT training courses, students are basically involved in Information and Technology (ICT) whereby there is a need to use a computer to study and learn. Therefore, schools need to provide them lab facilities whereby there will be computers for them to use. Classroom training is a very costly business venture. It requires experienced instructors, fully equipped labs, full-time staff to look after the labs and to arrange the schedules of the students. It is expensive as computers,hardware and software are really expensive. It is not just five or six computers but 100 or even more of computers need to be fixed in labs for the students to use. Nowadays, people are engaging to Information and Technology(ICT) where technologies are almost everything in their life.

In this case, students will not show up for class if there is insufficient of resources. If the IT class is not interesting, students will skip class or even sleep in the class as there is no practical work but just theoretically work which is boring. Besides, in order the students to understand more on what their instructor is teaching, they need printed course materials like textbooks or lab manuals to guide them. Students that are IT illiterate need lab manuals and tutorials a lot to guide them. These kind of resources are expensive. Tuition fee for IT courses are expensive as the resources fee are expensive as well. It often representing almost around 10% of the course cost. IT courses cost will cost approximately around RM1370 to RM17,000(roughly) or even more depending on subject covered, the duration of the course and the expertise of the instructor. Students will attend lab classes two or three times in a week for the practical learning and the rest of the time will be in classroom for the theoretically studies. One week, students will attend 3-5 days of classes. Students will have to pay for the traveling money and so on. The cost of the IT courses will probably get up till more than RM20,000.

E-learning

Generally, we always thought that web-based training is higher in term of cost compared with traditional classroom training. A lot of people think that the more the students interactive with other students with the use of computers, the greater the cost is right? Students share their opinions with their classmates or their instructors through chat services. However, the cost of the classroom training is generally almost the same with e-learning courses.

Students nowadays are almost all IT literate. So, students that are very good in computers do not really need to go for IT courses in traditional classroom training as they could find 2% to 3% less of the cost of the classroom training online. For example, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) click here program. It offers a lot of courses like Management Training, IT and Software Development and etc. This is where students could learn how to design, configure, install and troubleshoot the network systems. This type of web-based training is usually where the notes or tutorials can be downloaded online or streaming media. The costs range from $100 to $500 equivalent to RM340 to RM1,700 (roughly) depending duration of the course and the subject that will be covered online. It is extremely unbelievable but it is true that the price is cheaper than traditional classroom training.

References:

- studyworld, MCSE The Complete Guide Series [Online], Retrieved on Thursday, 25th of February 2010,

URL:http://www.studyworld.com/books/study_guide/mcse_microsoft_certified_system_engineer_exam.htm

- measureup, MCSE Training [Online], Retrieved on Thursday, 25th of February 2010,
URL:http://www.measureup.com/Site/display_article.aspx?AudienceID=&id=974

Avelyn