Do you have experience of online shopping or participating in e-auction? Do you visiting the “e-bay”- a well-known worldwide electronic auctions website that allow you to make bids if you are a buyer or place offers if you are a seller.
This is the link to lelong.com: http://www.lelong.com.my/
This e-commerce site has established in Malaysia several years
Various countries are implementing electronic government, including Malaysia. Electronic Government, or known as E-Government was launched since the initiation of Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) by the Malaysian government. Through E-Government, it will improve in both how the government operates internally and how it delivers services to Malaysian citizens. In the year 2008, there are 2006 MSC Malaysia Status companies. Besides that, more than RM 814 Million is being used as expenses in R&D. Moreover, 52 MSC Malaysia Status Companies listed on the MESDAQ. Malaysia also ranked 34th amongst the 192 United Nation members in using the ICT in UN E-Government Survey conducted in year 2008.
Every sector in this world is moving forward to be globalize, people are demanding for speed, efficiency, convenience and technology. Electronic and internet thus become the basis tools to achieve these criteria. E-learning is the latest method that become a popular trend in education sector. E-learning is basically an Internet + IT learning. Students can study and communicate with their lecturers and peers no matter how far their distance is. By using simple electronic device such as computer, web cam, PDA etc. The student can access to the database provided by the university to get their study materials. Examination are done on the internet discussions are conducted on the forum or virtual classrooms. However this method has arise many controversial issues that many people doubts that its pros can compensate with its cons. Well, from the student perspective we analyze what are the pros and cons of E-learning.
Pros:
1.Flexibility. Student can have a more flexible timing to conduct their study. Since they can study and finish the syllabus from their from their preferred locations, they can save time by avoiding travel to campus. This also benefit those handicap society that may feel uncomfortable to study in crowd and suffer difficulty to move around.
2. Self pace and flexible learning. Every student is different. Some of them are fast learners, while others might need a lot of time to digest the notes, think a lot in order to comprehend a chapter. If they are mix in a class, slow learners type of students can be fall behind of those fast learners. Eventually they have to push themselves to adapt the speed and they may feel uneasy to ask questions while people around them had already understand. E-learning allow these students to adjust their studies according to their ability.
3. Some student can study better at home or out of school. They can perceive a lecture better if they are reading in a familiar place. When they feel stress, they can simply stop study for a while and get some refreshments. By doing this way, they can understand better and faster.
Cons:
1. No competition no motivation. Some students they will work harder if people around them are scoring better than them. They feel challenged academically and this will motivate them to study more. But E-learning separate students individually, they are studying alone and always has nobody to refer and discuss. They feel unmotivated when they can compare their standards of achievement. As long as they get graduate they feel satisfied.
2. Cheating. Most of the examinations are conducted without supervision. Students are allowed to do their test from their home or anywhere. They can have many friends beside them and discuss the questions and the answers are not solely contributed by the student alone. The credit or the honor of the exam might not fulfill the original purpose.
3. Distraction. When people are living in a familiar environment, they are easily distract to others things especially when there is no strict supervision. For instance when a student is trying to learn a lecture, they could be chit chating with their friends or simply join a network society. Thus they can't focus on what they are reading. End of the day, they waste their time for learning nothing. Money and time were wasted and they don't even get a desirable result.
Conclusion, e-learning has vary impact and effect on every people. This method of teaching might suit certain people very well but it can also work less to other group of people. My advice, choose properly a method of learning that really suit yourself.
