African Journal of Library and Information Science

African Journal of Library and Information Science ISSN 5721-610X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-010, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Flexible learning programme (FLP) in Universiti Teknologi MARA: New opportunities for Malaysian higher education and training

Raja Abdullah Yaacob¹, Adnan Jamaluddin¹ and Kamaruzaman Jusoff²*

¹Faculty of Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Perdana Campus, No. 1, Jalan Pulau Angsa AU10/A, Section U10, 40150. Shah Alam, Selangor. Malaysia.

²Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor. Malaysia.

Accepted 19 October, 2019

Abstract

The Flexible Learning Programme (FLP) has enabled the process of education and training to be expanded in an online virtual college mode, enabling students to use the state-of-the-art, and multi-media, e-Learning techniques. University Technology Mara (UiTM) has responded by applying the revolutionary new eLearning concept in her attempt to be futuristic towards the next generation of distance-learning. In doing so, the flexible learning programme offers an expanding range of exciting new formats for ICT and website design courses. Students may access the readymade information and references electronically and communicate online and interact through Internet. UiTM in general and the Faculty of Information Management in particular has moved a step further in providing education through Internet, known as the flexible learning program. This faculty became the first to provide a master’s program through flexible learning known as the Masters of Science in Information Management. The first group of 77 students came from all over Malaysia. It is interesting to note that the response from the participants has been encouraging despite the fact that this is a new mode of learning in Malaysia. The monthly seminars that are being held not only help in the reinforcement of the student’s capacity to absorb and to consolidate the sessions, but also to provide a good forum for discussions. This paper will attempt to explain the FLP and how it has so far sustained in meeting the objective of the program, despite the fact that it is of recent phenomena. This program has run smoothly and the rate of students’ response have continuously been encouraging.

Key words: University technology Mara, faculty of information management, masters of science in information management, UiTM, flexible learning programme, e-learning.

African Journal of Library and Information Science ISSN 5721-610X Vol. 6 (3), pp. 001-018, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Library and information science in distance education: Advantages and disadvantages in view of the students of the major

Mehri Shahbazi* and Maliheh Nikkar

Library and information science, Payame Noor University, 19395-4697 Tehran, Iran.

Accepted 22 May, 2019

Abstract

Based on the viewpoints of the Library and Information Science students in Payame Noor University, this study aims to identify both goodness and difficulties of Library and Information Science in distance education. A survey method was used to carry out the study in which the data was collected by two questionnaires distributed within two rounds. Student-based education, free-attendance classes and in turn, the possibility to find chances for other favorites, self-reliance ability in students owing to absence of full-time access to lecturers in comparison with the students of traditional system, achievement of high level of learning due to the existent general behavioral targets along with the practices provided in textbooks and ignorance of negative points in multiple-choice questions were of the most remarkable advantages introduced by the students. The most important disadvantages of distance education in view of the respondents were insufficient practical rehearsal on the site as well as inadequate students' knowledge about library e-resources, lack of practical capabilities due to the very few number of sessions made up during each semester, limited access to lecturers, inadequate students' information on their specific text resources and taking difficult final tests of the courses.

Key words: Advantages, disadvantages, distance education, library and information science, Payame Noor University.

African Journal of Library and Information Science ISSN 5721-610X Vol. 6 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Key words: Hardcopy, electronic, materials, library use.

African Journal of Library and Information Science ISSN 5721-610X Vol. 6 (2), pp. 001-010, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Undergraduate students’ perception of the effectiveness of ICT use in improving teaching and learning in Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Fabunmi, Francis Adesoji

Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 17 October, 2019

Abstract

The paper evaluated undergraduate students’ perception of the effectiveness of ICT use in improving teaching and learning in Ekiti State University, Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study and the instrument used was the questionnaire, the research method used was survey. The study came out with the results that there is a preference for ICT use in improving teaching and learning, though costlier than the traditional book sources. It was also discovered that students frequently use internet centres as places of accessibility to get information through ICT teaching and learning. It concludes by affirming the need for the development of ICT use in Nigeria universities for the improvement of teaching and learning for the students. This becomes imperative because ICT culture has come to stay globally in all higher institutions. Information and Communication Technology is now the modern means of improving teaching and learning especially in the University system.

Key words: Ekiti State University, information and communication technology (ICT), perception, teaching and learning.

African Journal of Library and Information Science ISSN 5721-610X Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-012, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Web 2.0 for teaching, learning and assessment in higher education: A case study of universities in Western Uttar Pradesh (India)

Sunil Tyagi¹* and Krishna Kumar²

¹Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Library and Information Centre, CIPL Campus, Rajnagar, Sector-23, Ghaziabad-UP, India.

²Department of Library and Information Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut-UP, India.

Accepted 26 October, 2019

Abstract

The main objective of the study is to conduct a usage analysis of Web 2.0 technologies in learning environment by faculties of selected universities at Western Uttar Pradesh. The present study sought to assess awareness of Web 2.0 and find out the use of wikis, blogs, RSS feed, social networks, podcasting, SNS, Mashup by the university faculties in Western Uttar Pradesh. The methodology for the proposed study is “survey method” with the help of structured questionnaire. The structured questionnaire is designed keeping in view of the stated objectives comprising of various types of questions, keeping in view of the aspects like total population of faculties in the university, perceived level of computer literacy, selection/recommendation of Web 2.0 tools, promotion of Web 2.0 technology and future plans to improve usage of Web 2.0 technologies in education. The sample consists of 4 Universities in the Western Uttar Pradesh. A questionnaire was distributed among the Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors and Lecturers to collect desired data. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to the selected sample for the current year; 107 valid samples were collected and analyzed. Web 2.0 is especially useful and creative when knowledge is digitized, modular and allowed to be used and distributed in a flexible way. Study was carried out to know the awareness regarding Web 2.0 tools like blogs, Wikipedia, RSS feed, social networks, podcasting, and others SNS, Mashup. It is observed that almost all of the respondents have good knowledge about the Web 2.0. All of the respondents stated that the Web 2.0 technologies play important role in education. The author suggested that librarians in university libraries explore ways to provide reference service via text/SMS services. Offering training workshops on Web 2.0 tools and technologies to library patrons is also suggested. The author also recommended that libraries provide systematic training for staff on Web 2.0 technologies so as to alleviate their anxiety over technology. There exist a number of studies on the Web 2.0 applications, but this is the first of its kind within the Western Uttar Pradesh of India.

Key words: Web 2.0, library 2.0, blogs, wikis, RSS feed and social networking sites, google, yahoo.