TAR UC Innovates Education with e-Learning

The current Movement Control Order (‘MCO’) implemented to contain the Covid19 outbreak might have disrupted normal learning approaches in institutes of higher learning, but Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (‘TAR UC’) is forging ahead with innovative online teaching and learning to ensure students can continue their studies at home with the use of e-learning platform. Two lecturers from the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology (‘FOCS’) share their innovative ways to keep their students engaged using e-learning tools.

In their efforts to get students prepared for e-learning at TAR UC, Ts Teh Lee Wah and Mr Bryan Ong Mor Yang conducted a briefing session on Google Live Stream, which is a Google Meet video conference feature, on 23 April 2020 for Diploma in Accounting and Diploma in Business Administration students, who are taking the Managing Information Systems course, and Bachelor of Retail Management (Honours) students, who are taking the Management Information Systems course.

About 900 students participated in the session, which guided them on how to submit e-assessment through Google Classroom. During the session, students who had any enquiries posted their queries in Google Classroom, and these queries were then answered verbally in real time and in text after the session.

“With Google Classroom, we can create classes, distribute assignments, and assess students’ works and send feedback, making it a convenient one-stop solution for educators,” Bryan said. “In this instance, Google Classroom enabled us to work out a standardised process for students to submit their e-assessment, and we took the initiative to brief our students so that everything would run smoothly on the day of the exam, which was on 28 April 2020.”

“Google Classroom also enables us to upload video files and make these videos accessible to students, and I have been producing pre-recorded lectures for students and uploading them on Google Classroom for students to access anytime and anywhere,” Ts Teh said. “Besides pre-recorded lectures, I also post quizzes, exercises and extra learning materials in Google Classroom, enabling students to still learn in an effective manner despite the MCO implementation.”

“I also teach the Management Information Systems course, and since the class size is small, I use Google Meet to conduct my lectures, tutorials and practicals, since it can support up to a maximum number of 250 participants. During lectures on Google Meet, students are able to ask questions in real time, both verbally and in text. Students also take turns to present their tutorial answers and discussion can be done interactively. During practicals, I demonstrate the necessary steps in Google Meet and students follow the steps to answer the practical questions. When they face any problems, I will ask them to share their screens and then guide them accordingly.”

“In addition, I also set online tests using Google Forms and post them in Google Classroom for students to answer. Students also did their assignment presentations online and the subsequent Q&A session was also done interactively. It was really great! Participation is 100% for every online session and even for extra classes!” Ts Teh added.

“In my opinion, technology is a real education enabler, and can effectively convey the lessons just as well as conventional teaching methods,” said Bryan. “When there is a will to learn, there will always be a way. We are fortunate that TAR UC provides all the necessary support for us to educate students effectively through e-learning platforms.”

In efforts to safeguard the well-being of students and staff during this period, TAR UC will conduct all its programmes of study online. This will cover all programmes of study offered in TAR UC’s Kuala Lumpur Main Campus, as well as its branch campuses in Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang and Sabah. However, if the government allows TAR UC to reopen for face-to-face learning before 31 December 2020, students will be allowed to opt for face-to-face learning on campus. Online learning will remain as an option until the end of 2020.