Date of Award

1-1-2000

Thesis Type

Masters

Document Type

Thesis

Divisions

Faculty of Education

Department

-

Institution

Universiti Malaya

Abstract

This research is based on the usage of study modes among distance education students. The study involved 96 students pursuing an electrical engineering distance education program with the METEOR Distance Learning Sdn. Bhd. The aim of the research is to investigate the various modes used by the students which includes face-to-face component. video conferencing, electronic mail, and Internet discussion boards. The mode which is most popular, comfortable, enjoyable, effective, confidence inspiring and least boring was also investigated. Furthermore the frequency in using a particular mode, factors that encouraged and discouraged a student to use a mode was also studied. The findings of the research showed that the most popular mode, not to mention least boring and effective, turned out to be the video conferencing and face-to-face component. However, the time allocated for these two modes of study was found to be inadequate and has to increased. The study revealed that the video conferencing sessions never began on time which in itself was an inconvenience to the students. The study also revealed that students were not confident in using electronic mail and Internet discussion boards simply because they could not master the technology. Apart from this, the lack of encouragement on the part of lecturers also proved to be an obstacle in the usage of the these study modes. The findings of the research also show that modules provided are not interactive and interesting, thus making students less than happy about using them. This research shows that there is an urgent need for distance learning institutions to resolve the weaknesses associated with the study modes revealed in the research. Distance learning institutions must also ensure that students enrolling for their programmes are familiar with the technology used so as to acquire optimum benefits.

Initial

snms

Additional Information

Dissertation (M.A) -- Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, 2000.

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