FOR today’s technologically-savvy students, the classroom is no longer confined to the physical structure surrounded by four walls.
Moving with the times, UCSI University recently embarked on a new learning approach, the Learning Management System (LMS), deploying technology to support conventional teaching.
Transforming the classroom by opening a virtual environment for students as an additional platform, UCSI chief technology officer Scott Steven says this additional “space” would be able to aid the existing teaching and learning methods at the varsity.
“The LMS is not replacing any of our current teaching methods. Instead, we are simply providing a value-added service for our students, enabling them to learn at their own pace, in their own space and time,” he says.
An addition to the current teaching and learning tools, the infrastructure of this new tool is built around the needs of students and staff — even catering to their individual requirements.
“All students have to do is log in with their username and password, and they would be able to access all the information relevant to them. We are now building an infrastructure to support access from anywhere and anytime.
“Students will be able to access the lecture notes and coursework content on their personal computers, phones, or tablets,” says Steven, adding that such convenience ensures that weaker students do not get left behind.
Easy access
“Some students may not speak English as their first language and may need to listen to the lecture more than once to fully understand it.
“You cannot rewind a lecture, but if it is available online, it is easily reviewable by students,” says Steven.
While handheld recorders may be a common solution, Steven says that the system would take away a lot of stress and burden from the students.
“On top of that, the lecture notes and presentations are also posted up on LMS, so they can look at the information while listening to the lecture.”
With an Apple Experience Centre located at its main campus, there is a support system available for students and staff to ensure that the technology provided for them is fully utilised.
“We have collaborated with a few software companies to ensure that students and staff are able to use what we have set up for them. While it is not compulsory, classes are also available for those who wish to sign up.”
After all, Steven says, with the nation moving towards a knowledge-based ecnomy, it is partly the education system’s role to ensure that students are continuously driven in their skills base, even after they have completed their studies.
Apart from featuring lecturers and reference notes, the LMS is able to guide the students in the learning of their subjects through interactive question and answer exercises provided by their lecturer.
“There are also forums integrated so that students can discuss their coursework with their peers, and even get feedback from their lecturers. This would certainly benefit those who may not be as vocal in a classroom setting,” says Steven.
He adds that the LMS allows students to quickly review work that they may have missed out on.
“If a student misses a class or are unable to make it to their lecture for some reason or another, at least they have access to the lecture and slides. However, this is not to say that students should not go for lectures, as they would still miss out on that teacher-student interaction in the classroom.”
Agreeing with Steven on the various possibilities of LMS, the university’s Faculty of Medical Sciences dean Prof Dr Peh Suat Cheng said that this new learning approach would enhance the teaching and learning experience, especially in the field of Medicine.
Hands-on learning
“Through the LMS, students would be able to do a cadaver dissection on a 3D simulation.
“This would benefit them greatly because the lecturer can provide the same replica of the cadaver to each student, and if they make a mistake in the process, all they would have to do is reverse it back to its original form and start again, which would not have been possible with a real cadaver,” says Prof Peh.
She adds that apart from being a good teaching and learning tool, using simulated anatomies also allows students to revise and practise a procedure.
“Even for the teaching staff and practitioners, this new technological approach allows them to revise dissection techniques on their own time, and keeps them updated with new research done to their area of specialty.”
With applications to check drug interaction, among others, medical professionals can easily double-check their prescriptions before prescribing medication, or even perform the prescriptions online.
“Most hospitals are already incorporating this type of system, so by introducing them to students, they would be able to seamlessly adapt into their workplace upon graduation,” says Prof Peh.
“Indirectly, we are preparing our students for the future. Most of the larger hospitals already have their patients information computerised, and IT is used for interaction among colleagues as well because information can be passed on quicker and more efficiently,” she adds.
Steven shares that the technology has been incorporated in the university’s teaching and learning process for six months.
“At the end of the day, what we are trying to do is to use technology within the curriculum, because that is where the future is,” he adds.
According to him, all of the university’s campuses eventually will be linked through LMS.
“Technology is something that is constantly morphing and evolving, so we need to be able to keep up,” he says.
UCSI University is a contributor to the Star Education Fund.
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