MIDT in press

1. thursday, MARCH 15, 2012 NEW Straits TIMES | PAGE 7
post graduate
A successful learning
experience in
an online learning
environment
P
assion, says Professor Dr Abtar and creating e-content for use in edu- on ID be actualised, and
Kaur, Professor of E-Learning at cating. As MIDT is a fully online pro- together with several IDT
Open University Malaysia (OUM), gramme, Professor Abtar’s expertise experts from all over the “One of the main
is an integral part of a successful class- in this area was a driving force when globe who formed the challenges faced
room. Combined with enthusiasm and it was first laid out. Board of Studies (BOS),
understanding, it allows the classroom “The difference between content in presented a working by educators
to fulfil its greatest potential in the digital form (e-content) and text books version of the MIDT that is that their
pursuit of knowledge and creates an is that book writing is linear and static, was eventually launched students are first run in 2004. Since before being uploaded for students.
environment in which learning occurs while e-content has the potential for by OUM. often more then, MIDT has produ- The essential nature of IDT and the
almost spontaneously. constant evolution,” Professor Abtar “I like to think that ced 11 graduates, and a unique situation of the master’s course
The Master of Instructional Design explains. “Using e-content for the MIDT our main components technologically doctorate in the subject offered at OUM – a course that is both
and Technology (MIDT) at OUM taps programme also affords a lot of flexi- are enthusiasm and savvy than they has also been launched. necessary but scarce, and also comple-
directly into this ideal, creating aspects bility to make learning personalised to knowledge,” Professor are. The only way The subjects in the tely online which allows a great amount
of curriculum, teaching and learning the individual learner.” Abtar says cheerfully. programme are MQA of accessibility not found elsewhere –
that would result in an optimised The Open Distance Learning con- “Thus far we have had around this is to approved and it is has aroused interest overseas.
classroom experience. Teaching envi- cept of education is highly dependent very keen feedback from go for training endorsed by the Com- “We have two institutions that
ronments nowadays, whether it be on instructional design and technology, the students, something that would up monwealth of Learning are interested in hosting the MIDT
classrooms, lecture halls or meeting as it relies upon its digital content to most people would not (COL). The latter offers programme,” shares Professor Abtar.
rooms, have a high technological com- guide and educate students. expect from a fully online their skill level in a scholarship to pur- “One is the Esterhazy Karoly Univer-
ponent intended to form a holistic lear- “Instructional design is a systematic course, where one might this area and the sue the MIDT at OUM sity in Hungary, and the other is the
ning experience, allowing an increase in process of planning learning,” Profes- feel there is less interac- MIDT is one route to five students from Daffodil International University in
student interaction, understanding and sor Abtar continues, mentioning the tion. To circumvent this that educators throughout the Com- Bangladesh.”
potential for knowledge expansion. ADDIE (analysis, design, development, we utilise Skype and monwealth every year. The good news is that an MoU has
“Our students from all over the world implementation, evaluation) system encourage intercom- can think about already been signed with these univer-
are practicing what they have learned that is commonly implemented in ID. munication through in enhancing their A n e s s en t i a l sities, and if all goes well, the program-
from us,” Professor Abtar says. “We are “We anticipate that through our MIDT email and forums. The technology skills.” master’s: The pro- me will be launched internationally in
glad that we have managed to create a programme, students can learn and positive evaluations are gramme at OUM con- either May or September, depending
ripple effect in terms of handing down also see an existing ODL example incor- proof that with good Professor Dr Abtar sists of 14 courses, some on whether the proposed internatio-
generations of good teaching and lear- porating IDT that is successful.” implementation of IDT, Kaur of which are taught by nal programme structure stands up to
ning practices.” you do not have to phy- Professor of outside specialists of OUM and Professor Abtar’s stringent
Among Professor Abtar and MIDT’s Creating a needed programme: sically face the learner in E-Learning (OUM) whom a few are former scrutiny.
success stories are students from India Professor Abtar was first invited to the classroom to deliver MIDT students. To ensu- With an award-winning expert
and Bangladesh, both of whom are OUM to set up the Centre for Instruc- an impactful lesson.” re that the quality of the spearheading the programme, a suc-
lecturers at local institutions of higher tional Design and Technology (CIDT). The MIDT programme has no pre- programme is maintained throughout, cessful tried and tested ODL system
learning in their respective countries. As one of the few experts in the region, requisite requirements for its potenti- there is intensive interaction between and an online university that offers
Both play a significant role in the Professor Abtar realised the dearth in al students aside from a proficiency in the facilitators and Professor Abtar, and flexibility, students will find a master’s
human resource departments of their IDT experts did not bode well for sus- English. Several students have entered every course outline, and accompany- designed to create enthusiasm about
university where they implement what tainable education. With this in mind, the programme through OUM’s note- ing learning materials as well as assess- learning while fulfilling their educatio-
they have learned during their MIDT she suggested that a programme based worthy flexible entry system since its ment items are vetted exhaustively nal needs.
studies through the training of other
staff members in teaching and learning
successfully.
The purpose of MIDT is to enrich the
OUM’s MIDT student’s speak
teaching experience, allowing those
taught to graduate with usable, practi-
cable skills. A resounding example of
taught skill is the country of Singapore,
whose main, and possibly only, natural
resource is its people. They have mana- ID, I believe, is an ever-
ged to capitalise on this by creating a OUM is an established green discipline. ID
work force so well-trained and efficient
that they are sought after worldwide. Through the MIDT university with a clear education is all about
I can clearly see the programme, I have vision mission in making instructions
Necessity of instructional design:
“One of the main challenges faced by
positive impact the actually gained new delivering courses more efficient. I am now
educators is that their students are master’s has had on insights on instructional internationally. I am also more concerned about
often more technologically savvy than my training quality, lear-
they are,” laments Professor Abtar.
my attitude, knowledge design which I have impressed with the me-
“The only way around this is to go for and skills. been able to transfer thod of using the best ning outcomes, needs of
training that would up their skill level in
The programme is lecturers in different trainees, and many other
this area and the MIDT is one route that straight into the things that I have learnt
educators can think about in enhancing balanced and programme develop- subjects from different
their technology skills.”
well-sequenced. parts of the world. in MIDT classes.
Certainly Professor Abtar would ment.
know of the issues that drive MIDT Muhammad Arifur Rahman,
most intimately, having won half a Karen Ferreira-Myers, Swaziland Marko Teras, Finland Wynand Diergaardt, Namibia Bangladesh/UK
dozen awards for excellence in teaching