E-learning

The advancement of technology and the greater use of the computer has brought about this phenomenon of e-learning. I was browsing through some websites in the past and came across advertisements that said that one can earn a degree through online universities. I was shocked! It seemed like such a hi-tech idea, but now we are doing exactly that in UB too!

For my NTR 110 module in UB, I had to download the lecture documents and the assignments. After reading through them and completing the assignment, i will upload the document to UBLearns, and my lecturer will mark it and post the results online. There were also article discussions I had to participate in as part of the assessment. I think that the pros of this is that I can do the assignments at my own pace and time as long as I hand it in within the stipulated time (Friday, 9am/ 5pm).

Personally, this is an extremely isolated form of learning as I still prefer the physical lectures like the ones we have on Monday and Thursday with Mr Abel Choy, and I can go to him to ask questions right away. Although E-learning allows this in the form of forums, discussion boards and emails, the lecturers and the students have to constantly check the portals or else they may miss something.

In addition, another downside of e-learning is that glitches can occur. For example, as i was trying to upload my completed assignment on UBLearns for my NTR 110 lab, there was an error, and my file was NOT uploaded! I was in so much panic because there was no way I can edit my submission and my lecturer previously mentioned that she would not accept the labs through email. I was literally feeling like the picture below:

I hurriedly emailed my lecturer and THANK GOD she accepted it. phew!

So this point of online assignment submissions is also dangerous in the sense that the technology "dies" on us, and cause distress which is uncalled for.