JOHOR BARU: Secondary school teachers should embrace eLearning by implementing the Backward Design Model in planning and developing instructional resources.
The move would enhance higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) in students as well as enhance the quality of the learning process said former senior ICT lecturer from Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Kampus Ilmu Khas Kuala Lumpur Lim Siew Geck.
Conducting a seminar for teachers at SMK I.J. Convent, she said the school became the first educational institute in Johor to utilise the programme in the course of their teaching and learning.
Senior and middle leader team teachers from the school attended the two-day seminar sponsored by Suasana Suites.
Lim told teachers that eLearning XHTML (Extensible HyperText Markup Language) editor (eXe) is an open-source programme with an authoring environment to assist teachers and academics in the design, development and publishing of web-based learning and teaching materials without the need to become proficient or complicated web-publishing applications.
She said XHTML aims to provide an intuitive, easy-to-use tool that will enable teachers to publish professional-looking web pages for learning.
"It can be used for online and offline learning at any place," she said.
On why teachers choose eXeLearning to create a learning object, she stressed that the programme is free for use, is small and an open-source programme.
She pointed out that learning object created using eXeLearning is object-oriented because educational resources will be created with different contents, texts, multimedia materials, interactive activities and internet links.
Speaking of the benefits of using eXelearning for teachers and students in a long run, Lim said that the instructional components can be reused several times.
She said a single learning object may be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes.
"It promotes instructional resources sharing culture amongst teachers and schools." she said.
She told participants that the programme promotes the Backward Design Model application in creating quality learning object.
Teachers were encouraged to unpack the curriculum in preparing their learning objects by using the following steps: identify the desired results, determine acceptable evidence and plan learning experiences and instruction
The retired lecturer said the programme creates learning that is outcome-based rather than content-based.
"It focuses on what students want (or need) to do, rather than on what there is to know," she iterated.
Lim who has conducted this programme in various states said huge learning resources in the form of learning object can be collected within the control of the teachers.
She also noted that there is less impact on the environment as eLearning programmes are a paperless way of learning.
Lim added that students will enjoy learning in their ability and capacity thus creating a "learning is fun" environment amongst themselves.
Former education director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin said eLearning programmes empowers teachers to revitalise their knowledge and competency through professional learning.