Timeline for discussions

5 July 2021 Finalize our topic discussion and start to divide the work
(8.30am - 9.45am) among group members.

7 July 2021 Discussing the ideas through Google meet.

(9.15pm - 10.30pm)

8 July 2021 Getting our script and slides done. The discussion was
(9.00pm - 11.30pm) made through Whatsapp, Google Docs and Canva.

10 July 2021
(10.30am - 12 noon) 1st rehearsal with moderator
( 9.45pm - 12am) 2nd rehearsal with correction of ideas

11 July 2021
(10am - 12 noon) Recording the actual forum
Moderator script:

● Assalamualaikum w.b.h, respectable Dr Alice, ladies and gentlemen, good morning, I am

Ainaa as your moderator for today’s forum and the chosen topic for today’s discussion is
‘Online Distance Learning: Agree or Disagree?’. Before anything, I would like to
introduce our panelists that were specially invited to join us in today’s forum. Here we
have Prof. Dr. Adriana Syakirin Mohd Asri as the Vice Chancellor UiTM, Madam
Syahrizatul Aiza Md Rodzi, a fashion designer lecturer from MSU, we have Dr Fadzlin
Syafiqah Fahizan, Psychiatrist at Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Hospital
Melaka, Miss Norfarhana Muhammad Zaki, graduated student from University Malaya,
and last we have our Director General of Higher Education, Dato’ Sri Nur Aqila Natasha.
Welcome to the forum.
● Ladies and gentlemen, living in this current situation where we all have to face the
pandemic Covid-19, everything has changed including the method of learning. Online
distance learning or ODL for short is now popular among students and lecturers and also
teachers since we cannot meet physically. But, how efficient can this method be? So,
today we will discuss whether we want to agree or disagree. As to heat up the seat, I
would like to invite Prof. Dr. Adriana to tell us what ODL is and do you agree with this
method of learning?
● Thank you Prof. Dr. Adriana for the great opening. We are alert with the evolution of 4.0
in the education field. Nowadays, looking at our development of technologies, we do
think that we can achieve those goals where we learn in modern ways like other
successful countries as there will be no more cutting trees to produce a book right? As
mentioned by Prof. Adriana just now, she agreed to have this kind of method to train the
students with the technology so that they are well prepared for education 4.0 in line with
IR 4.0. I just need someone’s opinion on should the traditional way of learning be
eliminated? What say you Miss Farhana?
● Thank you Miss Farhana and Madam Aiza for your sharing. I was once a student too so
I do understand the feelings of studying under pressure. Even though I have passed
mine, I do feel the same as the other students as I am now working from home and the
technology is a must to complete any work. There are pros and cons to learning in both
traditional or modern ways. Dato’ Sri Aqila, as a director general of higher education, do
you think it is rational to continue this online distance learning even if there are a lot of
complaints from parents regarding the cost that they need to bear. Is there anything you
want to share?
● Thank you Dato Sri and Prof. Dr. Adriana for emphasizing more on what the government
and the University itself have provided for students' welfare. I do agree with Dato’ Sri
Aqila and Prof. Dr. Adriana when they mentioned about the initiative that has been
provided by government and also the University for the students during this ODL session
as I have seen my nieces studying using the medium that was mainly provided by their
University but not to deny that they look awkward in terms of presenting through online
and even recorded themself a few times just to make sure that everything is in a good
quality. I think they all need some time to adapt with the new changes made during this
 pandemic. All in all, I must say that I do respect these students for being so strong and
independent. Alright, despite all the points that have been said by our panels just now, is
there any long term effects towards mental health regarding this ODL, Dr Fadzlin?
● Thank you Dr for the info. I am sure that our audience right now feel a little bit worried
from what our Dr has said just now because I feel the same too! As someone who has
anxiety, I do agree that online study or even working through online can increase my
anxiety and stress like Dr Fadzlin mentioned, but not too worry because that is why we
need a psychiatrist right here so that we can seek help from them in order to solve this
issue. I think both parents and students need to understand each other in order to
prevent from getting too much pressure regarding this issue. Okay, we have come to the
end actually, but before that, do you have any last thoughts regarding today’s discussion
Madam Aiza?
● Alright, that will sum everything up. Thank you so much Madam. I hope that we all learn
something from today’s discussion. The positive effect we can take it as our strength and
for the negative effect, we can take it as a way to improve ourselves. I am so happy to
have all of you for today’s forum and I would like to apologise if there are any mistakes
while I am conducting the forum. Hoping to have this kind of opportunity again in the
future for us to discuss more on other topics. Till next time, take care everyone!
DISCUSSION NOTES

Title: Online Distance Learning: Agree or Disagree?

Claim Premises

Online distance learning Definition of Online Distance Learning

brings positive effects
(Agree) ● Merriam Webster defines online distance
learning as, “a method of study where
Adriana Syakirin teachers and students do not meet in a
classroom but use the Internet, e-mail, mail,
1. Definition of Online etc., to have classes.”
Distance Learning ● Simply put, distance learning is when
(ODL) students are separated from teachers and
2. Positive effect of peers. This means that students learn
Online Distance remotely and do not have face-to-face
Learning (ODL) learning with instructors or other students.
● Distance learning can be described as the
- The readiness of
students for teaching methodology in which students
Education 4.0 in the finish their study virtually and not
Fourth Industrial necessarily come to the lecture session
Revolution (IR4.0) physically.
● In other words, students read, take their
3. Initiatives from
tests, and complete online learning in their
UiTM
enrolled courses without the need to visit
any physical class such as lecture hall,
computer lab, library, or physical
classrooms. Unlike traditional learning,
teachers and students are required to be in
the same place and time.

Positive effect of Online Distance Learning (ODL)

AGREE
● The readiness of students for Education 4.0
in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0).
● What is Education 4.0?
● A desired approach to learning that aligns
itself with the emerging fourth industrial
revolution.
● In an era that focuses on smart technology,
artificial intelligence and robotics,
educational institutions must produce a
highly skilled and capable workforce who
can take advantage of the tools available in
this technologically transformed world.
● Education 4.0 needs to cater to the needs
of IR4.0 by introducing students to the
potential of digital technology, open-
sourced content and personalised data.
● I wonder if our Miss moderator and all the
panelists are aware of how young people
can find jobs if their education is three steps
behind current technological trends without
a proper blueprint?
● In preparing the learners towards a higher
level in education in relation to the IR4.0,
the Ministry of Higher Education is guided
by the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-
2025 (Higher Education) which is
established with the determination of
achieving Malaysia’s education system in
bring into line with global trends
● How can institutions of higher education in
Malaysia adapt to this new learning
environment?
● One method is by encouraging remote
learning. Remote learning means easy
access to education – an important
benchmark of IR4.0 – where every student
is given the opportunity to learn and
improve themselves anytime and
anywhere. But this is easier said than done.
● Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, schools and
universities across the world had to adopt
remote learning including UiTM. Starting
from 23rd of April 2020, UiTM has
implemented the Online Distance Learning
(ODL) in order to accommodate their
education system.
 ● Education institutions must adapt by
introducing accelerated remote learning,
where students will learn theoretical
knowledge remotely using digital means
while practical skills are still taught face-to-
face.
● This is the best of both worlds – the
transforming world and the traditional ways
of learning.
● In 2016, the Malaysian government
introduced a flexible mode of education,
namely the Massive Open Online Course
(MOOCs).
● This has been one of the initiatives taken in
implementing online learning in Malaysia
that creates a more globalised online
learner.
● Technology is moving rapidly and
educators have to keep up with this fast
pace in online learning rather than in
traditional learning.

Initiatives from UiTM

● The initiative of Universiti Teknologi MARA
(UiTM) to create the UiTM Prihatin program
is in line with the efforts of the Ministry of
Higher Education (MOHE) in helping B40
students to become successful and
excellent human beings.
● 53 students around Selangor received
zakat and alms donations.
● Program 1 Alumni 1 Laptop gives new light
to B40 students.
● Aims to help B40 students undertake online
learning.
● Laptop assistance for underprivileged
students to continue their studies during the
Covid-19 pandemic period.
● Apart from initiative in terms of cost, UiTM
provides convenient learning by giving
 Office 365 for free.
● It’s available for free to students who are
currently attending an academic institution
at UiTM.
● The service includes Office Online (Word,
PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote),
unlimited OneDrive storage, Yammer, and
SharePoint sites.
● It allows students to install the full Office
applications on their own device free of
charge.
● Students can simply use it with their isiswa
account.

Online distance learning ● Sorry, I can see your point but based on my
brings positive effects observation as a Director General of Higher
(Agree) Education, supposedly there is no burden in
online learning because the government
Nur Aqila Natasha
already provides some initiative for the
student and also for the parents.
1. The government ● According to the article The Star titled
already provides Education Ministry: Country's online
some initiative learning implementation strategy in final
2. Get initiative in stages of preparation by RAHIMY RAHIM,
online learning from TARRENCE TAN and MARTIN
other resources CARVALHO.
● So, to conclude this statement online
learning is the best choice during pandemic
covid 19 because from online learning the
student can learn whatever and
whenever they want, online courses look
great on a resume, and so on.
● students also get initiative in online learning
from other resources such as IPTS/ IPTA
RISDA, Majlis Agama Islam Johor (MAIJ),
Majlis agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan
(MAIWP), and also the initiative from the
university. For example UM, UPSI, UITM
and others.
Online distance learning
brings negative effects ● Student's mental health could be affected in
(Disagree) the long term as a result of online learning.
● Although the initiatives that were given by
Fadzlin Syafiqah the government and UiTM management
were very good in order to make sure the
1. Virtual learning can students can face online learning more
cause fatigue easily, those initiatives cannot help in
2. Online learning maintaining or improving the mental health
increased anxiety of students.
and stress ● First and foremost, virtual learning can
3. Online learning can cause fatigue.
cause a lack of ● There is this newly coined term during the
interaction and COVID era, called “Zoom Fatigue” which
social isolation refers to feelings of exhaustion after long
4. The parent’s mental Zoom classes or video conference calls.
health gets affected ● During an online class, there’s information
too due to online overload plus facing the screen for
learning prolonged periods is mentally draining.
● Next, online learning increases anxiety and
stress. Staying focused on online classes is
very challenging.
● Separating home life and class time, not
following a routine schedule, the
distractions at home, caused students not
to be able to concentrate well with their
classes.
● Online learning was used for their daily
lesson and to assess their academic
performance and it somehow caused the
students to get stressed. (Irawan et
al.,2020)
● Irawan et al. (2020) mentioned that one of
the contributing factors to students’ stress
rate is the pressure of online lecture tasks,
which requires them to use online media
that they have only learned and must
comprehend instantly.
● Besides, lack of interaction and social
isolation is also among the negative effects
 of online learning.
● The inability to have a face-to-face chat
with the lecturers caused difficulties
because students cannot ask questions,
receive verbal instructions or obtain
immediate feedback from their tutors.
● Research conducted by the International
Review of Research in Open and Distance
Learning suggests that online courses can
create student and professor
misunderstandings, which lead to
misinterpretation of tasks.
● Many of the students who inevitably spend
much of their time online can start
experiencing signs of social isolation, due
to the lack of human communication in their
lives.
● A research paper by Tim S. Roberts and
Joanne M. Mc Innerney (2001), faculty of
Business and Informatics at Central
Queensland University in Australia,
stresses the importance of interacting with
fellow learners, citing learners' feelings of
isolation as a definite drawback of online
courses.
● They cite a study of online courses in 2001,
which found that feelings of isolation were a
huge stress factor and often prompted
students to drop out.
● Last but not least, parent’s mental health
also gets affected due to online learning.
● Parents are very exhausted and causing
them high levels of stress while assisting
their children studying online.
● According to the KY Counseling Center
(2021), parents are getting overwhelmed
with their own job but at the same time
have to assist their kids with their online
class.
 ● Because of online learning, parents have
now become proxy educators, tutors and
are getting more involved with schoolwork
to ensure their kids learn well and maintain
good grades (KY Counseling Center, 2021).

Online distance learning

brings negative effects As a skills lecturer :
(Disagree) ● Not everyone is able to keep pace with
current advances in technology
Syahrizatul Aiza
● Requires increase in spending
● Support for
disagreement As a mother:
● Schedule confusion to carry out multiple
● Conclude responsibilities at the same time

➔ We do not achieve one agreement

➔ After hearing all opinion and views
➔ Every opinion and belief comes from how we deal
with it.
➔ Everything that we go through,will bring good in
return for all the hardship.

Online distance learning ● Disagree with Prof. Dr. Adriana’s point

brings negative effects
(Disagree)
Norfarhana
(Graduated Student from
University Malaya)
1. Technology is not
always efficient
2. The cost of internet
data increase
when she explained about Education 4.0.
● Traditional education cannot be eliminated.
● Technology is not always efficient and can
cause major disruptions to classes such as
blackouts or electricity problems. Online
learning requires students to have high
speed internet at their home, which can
cause complications if it is not available.
● The cost of internet data also has been
another digital obstacle to surmount, even
for those with access to smartphones and
Internet connectivity.
● Online learning requires students to have
high speed internet at their home, which
can cause complications if it is not
available. The students have to pay for the
 internet data and also some of them need
to buy a new smartphone or laptop.
● compared to the traditional education they
just need to pay for a printed note.
● Example: my sister is always struggling with
online distance learning with the internet
connection and also, she has to buy an
expensive smartphone to get a good quality
result for her learning

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