Focus A - Creating E Dreams in Borneo (Borneo Post - Sunday, March 13th, 2011)

Buy Sabah Borneo Post today - Sunday, March 13th, 2011

*newspaper cutting will be posted up soon*
 

CREATING E DREAMS IN BORNE0

A few weeks ago I touched on e-learning and New Millennium Learners. Who exactly are the New Millennium Learners (NML)? Millennials is a term widely used to designate those generations born from the 1980s on and grown in a context where digital technologies form inextricably part of their daily lives, the so-called Generation X. In short, Millennials are the first generation to grow up surrounded by digital media, and  are influenced by these technologies.

Accordingly, Millennials are thought to be adept with computers, creative with technology and, above all, highly skilled at multitasking and this is why they are also often referred to as the Net Generation, the IM Generation ( Instant-Message Generation), the Gamer Generation  or even the Homo Zappiens  for their ability to control simultaneously different sources of digital information.

Typically their everyday lives are characterized by immediate communication, via instant messenger, cellular conversations or text messaging. And today’s teenagers are increasingly spending more time using home digital media (computer, games, the Internet) than watching TV. Millenials usually take for granted that multitasking is the normal approach to using digital media: being online while at the same time watching TV, talking on the phone, and doing homework. While earlier generations were introduced to information through print, Generation X takes a digital path. They have short attention spans or “grasshopper minds”, for the inclination to leap quickly from one topic to another, sometimes back and forth, instead of lingering over a subject. Such a repeated behaviour will result in NML being impatient if sources of information are not instantly at their fingertips, and rarely spend long hours thinking about the same thing.  NML have grown up used to:

1. accessing information mainly on non-printed, digital sources,

2. giving priority to images, movement, and music over text,

3. feeling at ease with multi-tasking processes, and

4. gaining knowledge by processing discontinued, non-linear information.

The resulting changes seriously defy traditionally expected behaviours and supported practices by formal education institutions – longer attention spans, reflective activities, and focusing intensely only on one activity typically involving some form of properly written text. NML can be said to be “digital natives,” native speakers of the digital language of computers, video games, and the Internet, as opposed to their teachers who are mostly “digital immigrants” and have had to adapt to the new environment created by ICT. They have had to learn a new language and, because of this, their accents in speaking this digital language are still discernable.


CREATING E DREAMS IN BORNEO

According to educationist Madam Eve  (Masters in Education) there are now a e-learning programs in Malaysia  for students following the Malaysian school education system covering all subjects from Standard 1 to Form 5. and for the sole purpose of providing an interesting and complete platform for students to learn, practice, study and prepare for their required examinations. The program known as FOCUS-A was developed by Creative Dreams International Sdn. Bhd. and the brainchild of Thinesh Kumar. It was officiated by YB Datuk Masidi Manjun, Minster of Tourism, Culture and Enviroment in 2010 Those using the program  can study in the comfort of their own home or anywhere there is access to the internet and at anytime convenient to them. It is marketed at the price of RM795.00 per year.

Madam Eve (0168201125)  &  her A Team have done research and development on FOCUS-A features which they found out are:-

1.   Web Tutor Virtual
Web tutor virtual is a virtual classroom where tutors pre-record each and every topic available in the subjects. Web tutor consists of slides and voice over explanation which can be assessed unlimited time by students.Once students are done , they can proceed with the web topic exercises

2.   Web-Assessment
In web-assessment there are various types of questions from ranging from easy, moderate and difficult level. E-Assessment is created in a game mode to make the learning much easier and fun yet challenging. .

3.   Instant Marking Answers
All questions are checked as soon as the students click on the answers. Instant marking makes learning fast. Therefore, students are able to identify their mistakes instantly. Students are also encouraged with motivational words.

4. Web- Trial Exam
Specially prepared sets of trial papers are given to students through this section. Trial exam papers come with time limit so as to prepare students for the actual examinations.This can be taken as the final preparation before students sit for the actual exams. It gives students the added advantage of being exam ready and avoid exam phobia.

5. Web-Score Card
Web-Score Card provides both students and parents with the results of all work that have been done by students. This could help the parents to track their child’s performance and progress in their studies.

6.   Web Forum & Chat
In web forum and chat, students, tutors and even parents can  discuss or exchange ideas on any particular topic. Anyone can start an interesting topic. For example, a student who doesn’t understand a particular topic can post a question, and everyone can participate in the discussion.This gives a healthy environment for students to make friends and discuss a topic intellectually.


COOL  ( Computer Orientated Online Learning)

This is a e-learning service provided by a local company Marcel Jude Sdn. Bhd.( 0128030778) The company is engaged to create a personalised data base for a student to mange his notes and learning. In other words they condense and arrange his notes and material into one digital file. So instead of the student having his notes, files and papers all over the place he has them in one digital file in his PC and hence the concept ONE FILE FOR LIFE. The database is web interactive as they are created with links to sources of information on the Internet and to websites which are relevant to the student. The database comes with a powerful search engine  that allows a student  to search for information. For example a student in his final year can easily search and revise information for his first year of his degree or diploma program. The search engine is super fast and works instantanouesly. You think,you type and WALLAH, its there in front of you. The database has a very huge capacity and can keep on growing. We have a saying “We are faster than GOOGLE, bigger than WIKIPEDIA.”  This database will assist students who need to revise or want to forward learn. It can turn poor students into good ones while good students will become great students. It can also be used for business and commercial purposes. The service is provided at RM300 per user. It is a charity project as the proceeds of sale will be made available for building, development and scholarship funds for selected schools and students. If there are any schools who wish to be recepients of this project  please email marceljude@yahoo.com.


PALS (Project Asissted  Law SelfHelp)

In 2003, after an Asean E-Commerce Workshop in Bangkok I wanted to to find a way to provide simple law information on what was then a brand new medium. The promise of the Internet was  awesomely grand. Not only could it be used to convey information, but it could also revolutionize how net users everywhere got answers to everyday law questions.In 2006 when I stared writing Lex Borneo I was bombarded by law questions almost one per hour.  I then started a website known as askmelaws.com. This pioneering service allowed users from all over the world to post questions on law at our website.  Askmelaws.com remains committed to the principles that have inspired our story from its inception - to use the Internet as an avenue to provide the public greater access to law information. In 2011 askmelaws.com was invited by the La Salle Board of Governors Development Committee to embark on a charity project to assist  to source funds to complete the school extension project and the Sri Murni Apartments. In consquence thereof on 8th March 2011 we launched PALS (Project Assisted Law SelfHelp). To use the service go to the website, sign up and pay the subscription fees of RM300.00. Proceeds of all fees will go to the completion of the La Salle School Extension Project and the Sri Murni Apartments.

For more details on Creative Dreams International, Focus A, COOL or PALS sms 0128030778 or email marceljude@yahoo.com. For more news go to my website @ lexborneo.com.