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12 June 2002, Singapore
Malaysian online facilitator loves doing it |
E-learning has come of age. Not only do many working adults use this medium to further their education, they actually find that it is a necessary component in their busy lifestyles.
Below is an excerpt form an online facilitator who enjoys his role in the education process tremendously. We have asked her some questions where her heartwarming answers are reflected below.
Name: Ms Tan Yew Lee
Online Facilitator for: HR302,BA336,HR403,HR404 HR303 and MC301.
| Q. | How you find online facilitation? Exciting, challenging, fun, etc? |
| Ans. | I think online facilitation is interesting. It’s because students and facilitator do not need to meet up but still can communicate on the Net. I never thought I would have the chance to facilitate a virtual class before I join Purpletrain as an Online Facilitator. Well, I feel excited when students ask me questions at the same time in the online chat session. A facilitator has to extremely alert to who enters the chat room so that I can get the answers out in an appropriate manner. I have to managed to answer within the given time well in order to complete the planned syllabus in each chat session. Therefore, time management is quite important in online facilitation.
I find online chat sessions different from the normal ICQ chat. In contrast, online facilitation chat is exciting in the sense that my role is to guide and facilitate the chat session, students may ask whatever questions to clear their doubts, so I have to give immediate feedback or what I think on the spot. This is why facilitators may need to glance through the syllabus and materials (even though the module may be studied before or related to work experience) before the chat.
In my opinion, I feel online facilitation is a challenging task as I can't view students’ facial expression and body language. What I can do is ask if students have any questions if I see that they are very ‘quiet’, i.e. having less participation or not up ‘voicing up’ in the online chat. Sometimes I even have to ask them repeatedly after each unit discussion to show that they understand that particular unit. I feel relieved when I see that students who have been encouraged or who have cleared their doubts give me a "smiley face". It makes me smile when I noticed that students have gained confidence and fear of unknown (especially for first time e-learner) has been reduced. When I coached students who have some personal commitment and difficulty in their study, I help them by giving replies with support and guidance. As a facilitator, sometimes I feel close to them. However, it is fun because I can use different kind of online tools such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) in Purpletrain website to upload handouts and it responds very quickly. |
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| Q. | What do you enjoy the most at class? |
| Ans. | I enjoy communicating with students from different parts of the world, not only from Singapore, but from Pakistan as well. Some of them are of different nationality but are residing in Singapore. They come from different backgrounds and I enjoy it when they are willing to share their background information with me concerning certain topics. This made me understand them more. I feel happy when students show their appreciation to me after I have assisted them to clear their doubts. Another thing I enjoy is when students have found some relevant website for assignment and willing to share with others, as well as students who are willing to take extra effort to complete the past year questions and post them in the discussion board. I feel happy when students are willing to use extra effort to do research for their assignment. As an online facilitator, I enjoy reading student’s well-presented assignment with analysis. I enjoy chats with students in chat room as we are sharing our ideas towards successful e-learning. |
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| Q. | What is the greatest challenge you have faced so far? How do you resolve the problems? |
| Ans. | In one of the previous modules that I have facilitated, there was a student who did not feel confident to face the coming examination as she was facing stress from work and family at that moment. After I have received her private mail, I felt that I had to help her. I have told her my own experience when I was pursuing my postgraduate study, the challenges I was facing at that time and how I overcome them. I’ve told her she could do it too. As she was fear of her exam, I gave her support and I have told her as long as she has tried her best, don’t be overstressed and worry about the consequences, let God decide the outcome. I have told her that she may apply her relevant working experience.
Some students have thanked me for giving them quick replies to their private messages. That actually pleases me to no end as I feel very happy when students do well in their assignments. I have even congratulated them through email and they were very happy. I feel this is the kind of satisfaction that I have gained in this job as an online facilitator. I feel happy as long as students are happy. Challenges in online communication are sometimes present as people can’t see face to face. A facilitator can resolve problems and boost the motivation to learn by timely online support (e.g. send emails, private message and answer students questions within the time limit). It is vital to assist students in their e-learning. |
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| Q. | How do you think online facilitation has affected your life? What are the
pros/cons? |
| Ans. | Online facilitation has definitely affected my life as I have to go online more often to check students’ messages, Part of this involves counting the hours so I can reply students’ message within 24 hours (including sleeping hours at night). I end up bringing my laptop wherever I travel to if I am not in home. Therefore online facilitation is challenging as I have to run with the time. The good thing is I am more time conscious now and won’t waste time. Sometimes the responsibility as an online facilitator even makes me hang out at CyberCafes! |
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| Q. | Who would you think should take up University Of Cambridge - Business Programmes? Why? |
| Ans. | Businessmen, company business executives/officers, even computer professionals may take up the Business Programmes offered by the University. The business programme does not exclude people in technical professions as long as they are interested and if they think they can transfer knowledge they have gained to their job. This will enhance their knowledge in business and career development. For example, in order to reach upper management level, it is advantageous for someone who knows how to communicate with people effectively (where they can learn from a module called ‘Business Communication’). In addition, entrepreneurs can apply the marketing knowledge they have learned in this business course and apply them to their products/services. |
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| Q. | How helpful is e-learning? |
| Ans. | I think e-learning is good as it utilizes the ‘Internet’ to assist students in their studies. E-learning not only gives an opportunity to working people to study online as they not need to go formal lecture class. Many working adults feel that they don’t have time to pursue their study because work commitment and lack of time.
Online learning through PurpleTrain.com gives them opportunity to clear their doubts online, get lecture notes (facilitators’ handouts), submit assignments, browse through course content online, give feedback forms to school online and contact different school divisions online.
E-learning reduces hassles and gives them more freedom and flexibility in their learning style. E-learning not only enables students to ‘meet’ their virtual classmates and form study groups (reduce time to travel), but also enables them to collaboration of ideas online. In order to maximize student’s satisfaction, various divisions are available to the students for problems regarding academic, technical, exams, operations which I feel is integrated very well and works like a normal school.
In online learning, students are given support such as discussion board and online chat sessions to facilitate their learning. I feel online learning develop friendships, respect, appreciation, mental support and motivate learners in absorbing the course content. Online facilitators are responsible to facilitate the learning and provide necessary support to minimize students’ concerns especially first time online students. The more support and guidance that the facilitator gives, the more motivated students are in e-learning. |
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| My message to students |
| Ans. | I feel happy to facilitate students in Purpletrain. I hope all students in Purpletrain enjoy their e-learning and I wish all students all the best in their study. E-learning students should not hesitate to contact their facilitators through private message or message in discussion board if they have any questions regarding the module, this is to eliminate their doubts and this will enhance their interest in their e-learning. Students should be participate in discussion rooms and online chats in order to build confidence in their e-learning. |
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| Others |
| Ans. | I think I would like to thank Purpletrain for given me opportunity to facilitate online, I feel e-learning is gaining popularity nowadays. I’m proud to devote myself in this job and I will try my best in e-facilitating. |
So as you see, life as an online facilitator is not always a bed of roses but the experience can be extremely satisfying to some and brings them back for more.
Whether you are thinking of signing up for classes or intending to become a facilitator, do visit the Purpletrain.com site to find out more. Visit http://www.purpletrain.com and get ready for e-learning anytime, anywhere.
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The Informatics Group, established in 1983, is a multinational corporation providing training and educational services in information technology and business management. Through its international franchising program and strategic acquisitions, Informatics presently has a global network of more than 400 centres spanning 36 countries.
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PurpleTrain.com is the e-learning service provider which offers a one-stop service for business and IT education programmes, corporate training courses and education-related services. By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com offers companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective online training solution. Over 1000 online courses are available, offering PhDs, masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates in business and IT programmes. Its e-community now stands at over 55,000 users.
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