Tutor- Marked Assignment 1

ANSWER 1:

WawasanLearn is to develop and enhance sets of attitudes to Open Distance Learning student that will

lead to successful and independent lifelong learning in an open learning environment. WawasanLearn is one of

the Learning Management System or LMS software packages that enables the management and delivery of

content and resources for Open Distance Learning students. The Learning Management System technology has

now become an integral part of teaching and learning in Open Distance Learning. It is very flexible in

adaptation and its ability to support variety of learning environments. WawasanLearn can access through the

Internet at anywhere and anytime. Wawasanlearn is ‘home based’ learning resources that can help you handle

with some of these changes and make better progress in your learning. (Soon Yin, Dr. Tan ; Kok Keong , Mr.

Fan ; Emmanuel, Ms. Jasmine Selvarani ; 2007)

For Leaners expression

Can find virtual live classes and resources such as books and learners are able to read course materials,

complete assessments, quizzes and tests from the convenience of their personal computers.

To connect with other learners.

WawasanLearn has provided a tutorial forum for Learners to discuss, collaborate and brainstorm each other.

To dialogue with the tutor and Course Coordinator.

Provide information and resources to help complete and submission of assignments and quizzes.

To seek mentoring and live help

Are used public forum to discuss and live chat with learners.

For content interaction among learners and/or tutor and Course Coordinator.

Tutorial forum is a dedicated forum that students and tutor can use to post or communicate with each other to

discuss specific issues of the tutorial within the same tutorial class such as queries on Tutor Marked

Assignment.

WawasanLearn also provides you support in terms of the resources you need to easily view the course

materials and digital library, and it has made available for you are the links to external web references to enable

students to become a more efficient and successful learner.

ANSWER 2:

Open distance learning (ODL) is separated to 3 meanings. First off all, “‘Open’ means that the learning system

is available to anyone, irrespective of age, qualification or ethnic group. The ‘Distance’ in our context has a

spatial and a time dimension. The physical distance means you study away from the academic institution, in

this case WOU. In terms of time, the teaching and learning activities are separated. In our case, the teaching

activities refer to the preparation of the course materials. They are prepared and ready well in advance.

“Learning” is the activities refer to you studying the materials at home or elsewhere and completing your

assignments. Well, this happens at a different time from the course material preparation. In both the

geographical and spatial sense then, ODL is ‘distanced.’” (Soon Yin, Dr. Tan ; Kok Keong , Mr. Fan ;

Emmanuel, Ms. Jasmine Selvarani ; 2007). Open Distance Learning (ODL) is a learning system where learning

is accessible to all, and where the teaching and learning activities are separated by time and space. Learning

does not necessarily occur in the physical presence of a teacher and the Learning also does not necessarily

happen at the same time as teaching. Open Distance Learning, gives everyone the opportunity to all those who

are working and wish to continue their education. Students learn at different times and places from the

institution. This approach gives you flexibility and choice over what, when, where, at what level, and how you

learn. (Soon Yin, Dr. Tan ; Kok Keong , Mr. Fan ; Emmanuel, Ms. Jasmine Selvarani ; 2007) Furthermore, the

Open distance learning has produced certain characteristics:

Separation of teacher and learner-

In time or place, or in both time and place.

Self-managed learning-

Learners have to be independent and organize their own learning.

Unlimited access to course-

24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, can access to digital library and LMS.

“Just in time” and on-demand learning-

Digital learning is delivering knowledge when and where the student needs it, and as often as they need it. This

concept of “anywhere-anytime” Learning leads to greater student retention and satisfaction, in addition to

significant cost savings for employers.

Institutional accreditation-
That is, learning is accredited or certified by some institution or agency. This type of learning is distinct from

learning through your own effort without the official recognition of a learning institution.

In terms of ODL, the students do not need to meet at the same time. Instead, you can choose your own

time frames and interact with other learning materials, other students and tutors according to their own

schedules. This leads to self-learning and self-managed learning. It allows different levels of learning and

schedules. Other examples of asynchronous delivery include email, list servers, audiocassette courses,

videotaped courses, correspondence courses, and WWW-based courses. Open distance learning gives you

access to education that you will not have. Open Distance Learning allows learners to study when and where it

suits them, you are able to continue studying while fulfilling work, family or community commitments.

“What will higher education look like in the first decade of the twenty-first century? The question is not

whether a new higher education paradigm will develop but rather how fast it will occur. Although we cannot

yet fully answer the question…, we can begin to see an outline of higher education that is easier to access,

unconstrained by barriers of space and time, student centered, and cost-effective. For now, that appears to be a

sufficient answer.” (Cyrs 1997)

References
Cyrs, Thomas E. (Ed). 1997. Teaching and Learning at a Distance: What It Takes to Effectively Design,
Deliver and Evaluate Programs. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Soon Yin, Dr. Tan ; Kok Keong , Mr. Fan ; Emmanuel, Ms. Jasmine Selvarani ;. 2007. Learning Skills for
University Studies : Unit 2 Learning Modes at WOU . Penang: Wawasan Open University.