e-learning readiness - Asia Pacific Region - Open University Malaysia

Although most enablers acknowledge personal awareness of E-learning,many respondents lamented the lack of publicity, institutionalinvolvement and government support for this mode of learning. Thus, byway of showing that there was a general lack of readiness, enablers feltthat there was a need for strong policies to be put in place and for therecognition of E-learning initiatives. Further, enablers commented on theneed to disseminate more information on E-learning, and for moreliterature on converting traditional modes of learning, or incorporating E-learning into current day educational programmes. Most enablers feltthat there would be more environmental readiness if the governmentplayed a bigger role in making E-learning a more acceptable andrecognized form of becoming qualified for a particular field of work. Tothat end, there were many calls for a national policy on E-learning.Cultural ReadinessWith reference to cultural readiness (Table 41), 86 percent thought that E-learning is an efficient means of disseminating information and 85.6percent agreed that E-learning is an advanced mode of teaching andlearning. However, 87.9 percent of the enablers believed that the personaltouch is important in the learning process when using technology for E-learning. In line with that, 84.6 percent were of the opinion that the mosteffective method of learning is face-to-face and 76.5 percent said that theteacher is still the best information provider.TABLE 41. Enablers’ Perceptions of Cultural ReadinessDescriptionYesn(%)Non(%)Missingvaluen(%)Effective method of827 127 23learning(84.6) (13.0) (2.4)The teacher is still the bestinformation providerAn efficient means ofdisseminating informationEnables learners and tutorsto communicate andinteract betterDiscussions via theInternet make learningmore meaningfulThe personal touch isimportant In the E-learning processAn advanced mode/stagein teaching and learning748(76.5)840(86.0)678(69.4)679(69.5)859(87.9)836(85.6)206(21.1)111(11.4)271(27.7)267(27.3)87(8.9)97(9.9)23(2.4)26(2.6)28(2.9)31(3.2)31(3.2)44(4.5)TotalN(%)977(100)977(100)977(100)977(100)977(100)977(100)977(100)Joint Study by MEWC and OUM 60