1

Name : Mr Foo Chuat Meng

HP : 014-3012873
Email- cmfoo2988@yahoo.com
Time to call - Wednesdays to Sundays After 10
pm

ID : 1833190
PW : Learning3

Name : Ms. Jasmine

HP : 012 473 6961
Email :jasmineemmanuel@wou.edu.my

Dear students,
For most of you, this will be the first course at WOU. It
is important that you start your student life with this
course because it will show you how you can study
effectively in an open university. Some of the strategies
that you will need to use for your study will be very
different from what you did in high school.This may
make you feel anxious but do not worry. Your tutors and
I are here to help you so do keep in touch with us. We
care about your academic welfare.
Take care and happy studying
Jasmine
5

JASMINE SELVARANI A/P K EMMANUEL - (WUC131/03)

LHL221/05 Selections of Asian Literature, LHL331/05 Creative
Writing , LLS204/05 Psychology of Creativity, LPS301/05
International Organisations, LSP101/05 Introduction to
Psychology, LSP102/05 Understanding Personality
Types, LSP201/05 Adolescent Psychology, LSP204/05 Social
Psychology, LSP301/05 Psychology of Adult
Development, LSP303/05 Cognitive Psychology, LSP305/05
Psychology and the Workplace, LSS312/05 Principles of Social
Research, LSS313/05 Research Paper,MPU3113/03 Hubungan
Etnik, MPU3213/03 Bahasa Kebangsaan A / WLA101/03 Bahasa
Kebangsaan A, MPU3313/03 Comparative
Religions, MPU3412/02 Co-Curriculum, WLA103/03 Malaysian
Studies, WLA105/03 Pendidikan Moral,WUC106/05
Communication Skills for the Workplace, ...

learningskillswuc131.blogspot.com

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this unit, you should be able
To:1. Explain the background and set-up of WOU.
2. Explain the objectives of setting up WOU.
3. Describe the characteristic of traditional learners.
4.

Describe the characteristic of open distance learners.

5. Explain the benefits of ODL.

6. Make a comparison between distance and traditional
learning.
7. Explain the mental attitudes which an ODL student should
have.
8. Apply the various modes of learning for ODLers.
8

 To develop and enhance a set of attitudes leading to successful and

independent lifelong learning in ODL environment.
To learn effectively
Manage stress and time
prepare for tutorial sessions
Write assignments
Make short oral presentations
Prepare various types of assessments
Manage WawasanLearn in WOU
Use electronic library
9

 Search

for information via various sources, resources

Use evaluation criteria to select the most accurate,

relevant and credible data.

10

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

1.Develop strategies for utilising WOUs website,
learning management system and the digital library.
2. Explain the various modes of open distance learning
(ODL)
3. Apply effective learning and stress management
styles to manage their studies & personal lives
4. Demonstrate skills and strategies they can use
to handle various types of exam questions &
test anxiety.
5. Use appropriate academic writing and oral presentation
(OP) techniques.
11

Objectives
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
1.Describe how to access the WOU website.
2. Identify the main features available on the WOU
website.

12

 Access WOU website via Internet.

Internet = a network of networks, linking computer to
computers.
Internet = also the transport vehicle for the info stored in
files or documents on another computer.
Services used by computers WWW or Web
Web created in 1989 by European Particle Lab in Geneva,
Switzerland.

13

 To access website need a client program Browser

Common Browser Mozilla, Internet Explorer (IE) and
Netscape.
Main purpose of Web = to organise and make available
widely scattered resources within easy reach of the
computer user.
Info on Web organised into web pages
Web pages different kinds of info
Some web pages contain text (chracters) others
graphics ( text & pix or illustrations0
14

 More sophiscated web pages multimedia based, have

animation, sound and video images.
Website = a collection of related web pages, just like a
book that has many pages.
The most outstanding element of Web = have links to other
resources. Called hyperlinks
When hyperlinks are clicked the browser jumped from one
page to another web page or doc in a completely different
website.
Web = library
Millions of websites = the books in a library
You can only visit one website at a time.
15

 Today website disseminate info on just about anythingmaking info freely available to anyone and everyone.
Info can be on education, art, music, history or culture.
Even website on jokes www.danggoodjokes.com

16

 Via Mozilla Firefox click on it

Or click on the start icon, locate All Programs & search for
Mozilla Firefox.
Type http://www.wou.edu.my
This will take you to WOU Web Portal
Another way is IE & type the WOU url

17

1. Look at the main page

2. Look at all the icons, links and texts displayed here.
3. Click on My WOU Portal ( bottom right) is the WOU
student Portal the WOU learner.
4. What is a Portal ?
5. Portal = the door to a website to online library, web
search facilities, email, chat rooms, news updates and
links to other websites.
6. Portal= door to a new world of lifelong learning.

18

1. On the right, there is a short description of

WOU. What can you gather about the role of
WOU from the description?
It says that WOU offers working people a
chance to study further. WOU is not a profit
making organisation. It emphasises quality
education and is also actively involved in open
distance education at the international level.

19

2. Which of the features in the WOU website tells

you about :
a.the benefit of being an open distance learner:
ODL Whats That ?
b. the grading system used by WOU for your
tests and examinations:
FAQ Examination
C. semester structure used by WOU :
Study with us All you need to know
20

d. What the WOU logo means:

News Room Logo rationale
e. Accreditation of the WOU courses:
FAQ Degree programmes
Web reference
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides.Int
ernet/InvisibleWeb.html

21

In this section, you learnt how to access the

WOU website. Websites provide access to
various services and resources and they are
available round-the-clock. Similarly, the WOU
website, as described in this section, is equipped
with various resources and services to enable
you to become a more efficient and successful
learner.

22

Objectives:
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
1.Identify the role of the LMS in ODL.
2.Use the main functions in the WOU LMS.

23

As an ODL you need the support of various

resources to help you progress.

That is the LMS.

24

 ODL = a learning process or system in which the

teacher is separated geographically or in time
from his or her student.
Learning achieved via the implementation of
computer and electronic technology to connect
teacher and learner as when required, in either
real time (synchronous) or delayed time (
asynchronous)
The LMS = a software package that allows the
management and delivery of content and
resources to students.

25

 The LMS technology an integral part of teaching

and learning in ODL cos it is extremely flexible
in its customisation and its ability to support
multiple learning environments.
Most LMS are web-based and learners able to
access anytime and anywhere
LMS allow students self-service facilitating
registration for courses & providing access to
course materials.
Even can find virtual live classes and resourcesbooks & instructors.
26

 Via LMS, learners able to read course materials,

complete assessments, quizzes and tests from
the convenience of their PC while contributing to
live discussion forums and chat sessions.
In ODL, the LMS provides a place:-

1. For learners expression.

2. To connect with other learners.

3. To dialogue with the tutor and Course Coordinator.
4. To seek mentoring and live help.
5. For content interaction among learners and/or tutor and Course
Coordinator. (CC)

27

The function of the WOU LMS - WawasanLearn

LMS in WOU = WawasanLearn
It stores your course website where all the info
concerning your course is located.
It guides your learning & complements your tutorial
sessions by making available varied and additional
learning opportunities.
wawasanLearn also provides a platform to connect to
the teaching ( tutors & cc) & learning community (
learners from all over the country) at WawasanLearn

28

29

WawasanLearn:
help enrich and accelerate your learning experience at
WOU.
made available forum where you interact with tutors, CC

& course mates. ( not only from your centre but also from
other centres as well)
where you have the opportunity to discuss, collaborate,

and brainstorm with all of them.

provides you with info & resources to help you complete

and/ or submit assignments & quizzes.

30

31

There are 2 main types of forum:(a) Learning Forum

(b) General Forum

1. Announcement from CC This forum on latest

course announcements, course materials &
course related info & updated by CC.-very
essential to your learning.
2. Announcement from Tutor :- This forum on
latest tutorial annoucement updated by tutor.
Course related info for tutorial classes
announced here.
32

3. Tutor Contact Details This forum updated by

tutor. Each tutor posts his/her contact number &
available time for tutoring here.
4. Public Forum This forum can be posted by
anyone enrolled in the course for discussion on
general issues. Not to use to ask for specific
details about TMA or course content. Use class
tutorial forum.
5. Tutorial Forum A forum that students & tutor
can use to post/communicate with each other to
discuss tutorial specific issues such as queries on
TMA. It also for seekinganswers or clarification to
issues, doubts or any questions related to course
content as well.
33

As a new learner, you may have questions or

doubts that you would like to share with your
tutorial mates. Write down questions or doubts on
the areas which you would like feedback on in the
learning forum.
Sample question : Some of you may even work on
Saturdays and Sundays, so how are you going to
find time to study?

34

There may be questions or issues that you may want to

get more info on or discuss with your course mates from
the other Regional Office. Write down one question or
topic that you would like feedback on.
Sample question : Do you think 21 weeks is enough to
cover all the materials?

35

 You are required to complete 2 tutor-marked

assignments (TMAs)
WawasanLearn is one avenue to submit these
TMAs.
You must submit TMAs online.
Feedback on grades or comments will be given
later.
If you have any questions or comments on the
TMAs, you can always post on the class tutorial
forum.
36

 There is always a deadline for submitting TMAs

& will be stated in the course website.
You can answer quizzes directly on the course
website once or more.
RESOURCES
WawasanLearn also provides you support in
terms of resources you need to easily view the
course materials. E.g Acrobat reader
Another resource are the links to external web
references.

37

In this section, you learnt about the

functions of the LMS. At WOU, the LMS
which is known as WawasanLearn makes
available various resources that allow you
to further supplement and improve your
ODL experience. It also hosts your course
websites through which you can get info
on everything related to your course.

38

1. In your own words, explain what a

learning management system or
LMS is
It is a software that helps to
manage various learning
resources and distribute information
to students
39

2. Describe three ways the LMScan help

you as an open distance learner.
a. Communicate with tutorial/course mates,
tutors and Course Coordinators.
b. Submit assignments.
c. Get the latest course related information.

40

3. Name one difference between the

discussion board and the public forum.
a. Discussion board communicate with
tutorial mates.
b. Public forum communicate with
course mates from other Regional
Offices.

41

4. You have a doubt concerning one of the

self-test questions in a Learning Skills unit.
Describe how you can use the LMS to help
you to clear this doubt.
You can post your doubt either in the
Discussion Board or Public Forum. Email
the tutor or Course Coordinator to
clarify the question.

42

Objectives:
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
1.Discuss the importance of digital libraries in
open distance learning.
2. Apply various strategies for using the WOU
Digital Library.

43

1. Traditional libraries buildings books, journals &

printed materials & you need to move from shelves to
shelves.
2. Digital Libraries( DL) = the libraries in the
computers.
3. DL defined as a collection of texts, images etc
encoded to enable it to be stored, retrieved & read by
you thru your computer.
4. Within WOUs portal you will gain access to several
DL opened round-the-clock.

44

1. You can access it whenever you are

2. Everyone has access to the DLs.
3. The resources are available all the time.
4. Resources are available synchronously or
asynchronously.
5. It provides a structured approach to locating
info.

45

6. It enables easy retrieval of info.

7. The books are always well-preserved.
8. You can create your own virtual bookshelf.
9. You can network.

46

 The WOU DL MyDigitaLibrary contains vaious

electronic resources e.g. electronic databases,
journals and books subcribed by the library &
electronic resources in the Internet.
MyDigitaLibrary provides links to:

1.Electronic resources

2. Virtual reference resources

3. Digital content
4. Library research guide
5. Subject guides
47

6. Plagiarism and using Turnitin.com

7. Citation guides Chicago Manual of Style

8. Patron record section of the Library catalogue
enable registered WOU students & staff to check
their borrowing & files record.
What do we mean by electronic resources ?

- Internet-based or online versions of printed

journals, newspapers, books & other materials.
- a lot of advantages be read anywhere, no
missing or torn pages.
- Disadvantages? Comprehensiveness
electronic resources do not date as far back as
printed materials.

48

- To make e-resources work for you, you need to

know the best way to use them.
- Should explore other Internet resources &
traditional collections at WOU Library to
supplement your search.
MyDigitaLibrary can access from any computer
with Internet 24 X 7 regardless of your location.

49

1. ACM Digital Library (e-journal)

2. Books 24 x 7 ( e-book)
3. Ebrary (e-book)
4. Ebcohost (e-book and e-journal)
5. Emerald Management (e-journal)\
6. JSTOR Art & Sciences Collections (e-journal)
7. NSTP News & Image Bank

50

8. Oxford Education Dictionary (e-reference)

9. Oxford Reference Online (e-reference)
10. ProQuest Education Journals (e-journal)
11. ProQuest Theses & Dissertations (e-theses)
(For morehttp://woulibrary.wou.edu.my/library/finding_mydi
gitallibrary.aspx )

51

MyDigitaLibrary makes available e-journals.

Journals = periodicals presenting articles on a particular

subject such as Mathematics, business studies or info

technology.
You need to go to A-Z listing of electronic journals to find

the list subscribed by the Library.

You gain access you need WOU authentication.
Some articles in PDF format.

52

Now that you are an open distance learner, describe how you plan
to use the DL for:
1.doing your TMAs
Getting additional information from reference materials.
Checking information that I already have.
2. Preparing for your tutorials
Reading up on the topic or getting additional reading
materials on the topic.

53

3. doing your revision

Trying exercises or self-tests that may be found in the
reference books in the library.

Summary
This section discussed the role of DLs in ODL. As a learner
pursuing a university degree via ODL, you need various
resources and these are made available via DL. To help you
further, this section also explained the strategies for using the
WOU DL.

54

Objectives:
By the end of this section, you should be able to:
1.Define what a search strategy is.
2. Describe the three main search strategies.

55

When you ask others for info to

find what you need, you are
actually employing a very simple
form of search strategy.

56

 A strategy = a plan of action to be used to achieve a

certain goal
An important goal = to search for info.
You make use of search strategy which are techniques
or methods for getting the info you want as fast as
possible.
There are three main sources of info available online:
1.OPAC
2.DLs
3. Internet
57

What is a library catalogue?

a search & discovery tool that helps you locate
the Librarys online & print collections in a single
search.
also provides links to a full-text of books &
other e-resources purchased by the library.
can be used to check your borrowing record or
to reserve books which are out on loan.
WOU Library catalogue is known as
MyCatalogue . Where is it located?

58

59

Using Mycatalogue to locate library materials

To know the exact location of library materials,
you will need to know the following:
how to use MyCatalogue effectively
how to manipulate the results
how to interpret the records

60

Remember that finding the right materials will be easy once

you know how.
Below a sample of a WOU library book record after a
search.
You searched WOU

Library Catalogue Title:business law

Total Requests 0 Unsatisfied Request 0

Call Number

KD1629 K26 2005

ISBN

0582893976

Author

Keenan, Denis J

Title

Business law/Dennis J keenan and Sarah

Riches

Publication

Harlow : Pearson/ Longman, 2005

Edition

7th edn

Material Information

xxx,604p:III: 25cm

Added Author

Sara Riches

Subject

Business law

Subject

Business law- Wales

61

When searching the MyCatalogue , there are

three search methods.
The basic search is shown on the WOU Library
web page (look to the right of the web page).
To access the Advanced Search and Expert, click
on MyCatalogue ( look to the left of the web
page)

62

63

The first search we will look at is Basic

search. An example of Basic search for the
author Ronald W. Fry.
Key in the word Fry, Ronald in the Search
Terms column. Select the library location.
If you wish to filter by location, Then click
the word Search.

64

65

The following is the results for the above search.

66

Using the basic search method, locate titles for :

1.Study skills
Study Skill Strategies by Uelaine Langefeld
2. Word processing
Details! Details! Tailoring Mac ( and other) Word
Processing Output by Becky Wright

67

The second method is Expert Search. In the

second column, key in the word
management drury as follows:

68

69

1. Here you learn how to conduct an advanced search

using boolean operators.
2. Operators are commands used to combine keywords
to broaden or narrow the results of a search.
3. Combining terms using operators is sometimes called
Boolean searching.
4. A Boolean operators broadens a search by synonyms
or alternate terms
5. Boolean operators are words AND, OR, NOT , which
are used to connect search terms
70

AND : narrows a search by requiring that both

terms be present.
OR : broadens a search by incorporating
synonyms or alternate terms
NOT: narrows a search by excluding terms.
Question mark: Use a question mark (?) to
designate a single character. Use two question
marks to designate two characters, and so forth.
Ho? Will retrieve hop, hog, hot, etc
P?st - past, pest, post etc
W??en women, woven, widen, etc

71

Asterisk : Use an asterisk (*) to designate a single

character. Use two question marks to designate
two characters.
If you type Mar with an asterisk like this Mar* you
will retrieve market, marketing, marketplace,
margin, marathon, etc.
If you type St*s will retrieve statistics, states,
statements, etc

72

1. Do a Boolean search on the following

topics and write down the results of your
search in the space provided.
a. Writing and skill

College Writing with readings by John

Langan

73

b. study skills or learning skills

Study Skills for Open Distance Learning by

Open University of Hong Kong

c. Research methods not statistics

Business Research Methods by Donald R.

Cooper and Pamela S. Schindler

74

2. Now try doing a search for the following:

a.Co?t
Cost Cost Accounting
b. Psy *
Psychology Educational Psychology
c. G?ion
Globalisation- Ethics of Globalisation

75

Apart from the DL, there are also two additional

libraries you can use as a learner at WOU.
The first is the main library located at WOU
headquarters.
The second is in your Regional Centres.

76

When viewing individual records in the library catalogue, you will find a
BARCODE/CALL NUMBER/LOCATION/ITEM CLASS/STATUS as shown below:
Location

Call number

Barcode

Status

HQ Library

HD30.28.D245 2003

0000004135

Available

RC Ipoh

KPG856L477

0000011464

Due 9/12/2014

RCJB

KPG856 A135 2005

0000013656

Available

RCKL

HD70 M4 8976 2012

0000021322

Available

RCKC

HF5415.12AB L38 2007 0000006146

Due 4/28/2014

To locate the displayed item in the library:

1. Check whether the item status is available.
2. Copy the Call Number information.
3. Locate the book on the shelf. The call number is generally
taped to the bottom of the spine of each book or in the case of
thin book, at the bottom left hand corner of the book.
77

The library uses the Library of

Congress Classification Scheme to

assign call number to all books and
other library materials. Except for
WOU course materials and vertical
file collection.

78

A call number is a sequence of letters and

numbers used to identify the subject matter of a
particular item.
It is used to determine the location of an item on
the shelves.
How to read call numbers?
When reading Call Numbers, take note of the
following:

79

Book Title: Linear algebra; a modern introductio

Author : David Poole
Call Number: QA184.2.P821 2006
QA ---- The first line consists of letters that
represent the general subject of the item
184.2 The second line is always a whole number
from 1-9,999 and these numbers represent the
specific topic of the item. The numbers 184.2
represent algebra, linear.
P821 The third line represents the cutter number
assigned to the author of the book.
2006 The fourth line may be a year of publication
or volume number. In this case 2006 represent
the year the book was published.
80

 Books are shelved alphabetically according to the

letter on the first line
When books have more than one letter, the single
lettered books are first on the shelf (to the left)
followed by those with double letters. E.g. in the H
section, the order would be H, HB, HF, HV etc.

81

The Library of Congress (LC) classification

system organises books and other
materials by subject, to make it easier for
you to browse the shelves for materials on
a specific topic.
For more info:
1.http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco.html
2.http://ww.loc.gov.catdir/cpso/lcc.html

82

A DL houses electronic books e-books

You can download & save them on your
computer
You need strategies to locate them.
You must learn the correct way of searching the
electronic resources to improve the efficiency of
your searches.

83

Some points to bear in mind

Computers searches best when you have very specific
topics.
Remember a successful computer search of databases
depends on your familiarity with the:
search topic
contents and format of the database.
search and display commands

84

Internet search startegies differs from OPAC search

strategies and DL search techniques.
OPAC and DL search strategies are more strictured since
we searching for the specific titles.
There are two important steps in a successful search
strategies:
1.Know your topic
2.Know your Internet Search Tools the various search
tools you need. There are search engines, meta search
engines and subject directories.
85

If you know the web address you go

directly there.
Just type the URL address, press enter,
and you are directly linked to the site.

86

Browse thru the various pages of the

website. Select the links, click on them &
you are taken to other pages and topics.

87

Some of the most popular search engines are

Google (www.google.com), Yahoo, Exalead, etc.

In a meta-search engine, you submit keywords in its search

box, and it transmit your search simultaneously to several
individual search engines and their data bases of web
pages.
Within a few seconds, you get back results. E,g kartoo
(www . Kartoo.com) and Dogpile (www.dogpile.com)

88

 are organised into categories with each

category containing links to various other subcategories

89

 An invaluable strategy in open distance

learning to source for information.

90

 is a collection of data arranged for ease

and speed of search and retrieval.
There are lots of free databases of
reference material on specialised topics.

91

 A newsgroup is an area on a computer

network, especially topic, for example :
read messages posted on newsgroup that
discuss latest mobile phones.

92

Some search engines provide a service

called Ask a Question.
Yahoo for e.g. has Ask Yahoo service

93

The Oxford Dictionary of English, 2nd edn

(revised) 2005 defines a blog as a personal
website on which an individual records
opinion, links to other sites, etc.
Blogs offer alternative viewpoints on news
and other subjects.

94

Now go back to the topic you chose earlier.

Choose any three tools (meta search engine, DLs
or blogs) discussed above and locate info on the
topic Open Distance Education. Write down the
tools you used in the left-handed column and the
info in the right-hand column. Once you have
cmpleted your search, compare the results you
obtained with your course mates who used the
same tools.

95

Tools

Information

96

For further info on the topic you have just read,

you may refer to the following websites:
1.http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/?TeachingLib/Guid
es/Internet/MetaSearch.html
2.http://www.lib.berkely.edu/?teachingLib/Guides
/Internet/SubjDirectories.html

97

The three main sources of info online

are OPAC, DLs & the Internet. Each of
these sources requires different search
strategies. This section discussed the
search strategies related to these three
online info sources.

98

99

100

In this unit of Learning Skills, you learnt all about

the WOU website, where important resources to
assist you in this distance learning programme
are housed.
These include WawasanLearn and
MyDigitaLibrary.
Apart from knowing what resources there are, you
also learnt appropriate strategies such as OPAC
and internet search that will enable you to retrieve
info or materials more easily for your learning.
101

As an open distance learner, it is important

that you learn how to carry out the different
types of search discussed in this unit.
They will be very useful especially when you
read up for tutorials, complete assignments or
do your revision.

102

Instructions:
1.Has 2 questions. Q1 requires you to reflect on the
topic while Q2 is taken from Unit 1 WOUs website and
basic search.
2.Q1 an essay of about 350 words. Q2 answering a
question based on Unit 1 in about 600 words. Both
answers must be double spaced, using Times New
Roman and Font 12.
3. An individual assignment. Do not plagiarise.
4. Submit using OAS system correctly and in timely
manner.
103

5. TMA 1 deadline = 24 October 2014

2400 hours.
6. TMA 1 = 25 % towards the total course
grade.
7. Submit to Turnitin to generate an
Originality Report you can refer. A
similarity index of 30 % and above
may justify you to review your TMA.
8. Before you submit, zip TMA in Microsoft Word
format. You do not have to attach Turnitin index
report.
104

Question 1 (40%)
Write an essay on why you decided to continue
your studies with WOU during this September
intake. In your essay, include three reasons for
your choice as well as three challenges you
might encounter as you work through this
semester. Your answer must have an introduction
and a conclusion.

105

Compare and contrast the teaching

strategies used in the conventional
learning system and the open distance
learning system. In your essay include at
least 8 points that differentiate the
two systems. Your answer must have an
introduction and a conclusion.

106

It is important for you to cite and quote appropriately.

Remember to list your sources on the References Page
at the end of your essay. You must have at least 2 in-text
citations and references for question 2. Use the Chicago
Style of referencing. Your tutor will explain this
to you.
For more information on how to do proper referencing,
please refer to the WOU
university citation guide which has a detailed write up on
how to do citations and referencing.
Refer to:
http://woulibrary.wou.edu.my/library/mozilla/requesting_citgui
des.aspx
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