The forum discussed online learning and its benefits and drawbacks. A student explained that online learning allows flexibility to learn anywhere and improves time management. The counselor noted positives like accessibility of materials 24/7 and skill development. However, a downside is lack of interaction and non-verbal communication. The lecturer encouraged online learning for additional resources but noted self-motivation is needed. In the end, the student shared how online learning expanded their knowledge and was supported by friends, lecturers, and family.

1. Forum Title: Online Learning
Chairperson : Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the night forum of today. First of
all, I would like to thank to all of the audience in front of me. Thank you very much
for attending the forum for today. Our issue for tonight is “Online Learning”. First of
all, I would like to introduce our panels for tonight. Right on my left is Punitha, a
student from UPSI, next to her is our specially invited counselor Dr.Veerah..How are
you doing Dr.Veerah? “
Veerah :I’m good, and glad to be here this evening.
Chairperson : At the end of the corner is the very experience lecturer, Mdm Yokhanah. Welcome
to our forum for today…
Yokhanah . Thank you
Chairperson : Ladies and gentlemen, As we all know, online learning is also known as web
based learning. Online learning can also be define as a specific mode to attend a
course or program of study where the students rarely or never meet face-to-face,
nor access on-campus educational facilities, because they use to study online.
For further detail about this topic, I would like to seek an information from the first
panel next to me, Punitha.As one of the UPSIl student, when do u know
about online learning and why you choose online learning as one of your way to
study?
Student: Thank you miss chairperson. A very good evening to all the panelist and the audience.
I’m so glad to be one of the guests here. As what miss Gayathiri has said just now, I’m
a first year student at UPSI and I’m taking science education. I knew this kind of

2. learning since i was in secondary school. However it is not widely used as we must
depends only on text book and teacher’s guide. The reason why I choose online
learning is firstly it is a flexible way. Why? It is because it work when it make sense for
me. I can use it whenever either at night, evening or morning. With the online learning I
am not tied to the class schedule. Sometimes, the class timetable is too pack that
make students feel so stressed about it. The pack and tight schedule can cause the
student cannot perform well in their study due to fatigue condition. So by using the
online website learning. Besides going to campus, I also used to surf internet to study. I
can go for it whenever I want to and at any place I like as long as there is internet
connection. Furthermore I can improve my time management. It is because I don’t have
to wait for a bus to go to the campus in order to see my lecturers. I also can
communicate directly with my lecturers through the webcam although at home. I can even
ask questions and opinions to them. It is really a convenient way to study as long as we
have good intention and passions to succeed. I also can save money because at
university I also get the wireless connections. So I don’t have to use broadband at my
hostel. A side from time management aspects, I become more control of my learning
process with some online courses. I can even learn on my own page and also choosing
the subjects that I want to learn. Other than that by having this kind of technologies, I can
make friends all over the world. I can share ideas and information with my friends from
other universities of other countries. By doing this my knowledge will be widen and get to
know their country too. From this, I also can learn more learning skills and improving my
communication skills.
Chairperson: Next we move to our counselor, Dr Veerah, may be she would like to

3. share her precious experience with all of us. Based on your experienced, what are
the positive about online learning?
Counselor: Online learning or with other word is E-learning mean is a term that encompasses all
form of technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) or very specific types of TEL such as
online or web-based learning. In my opinion, online learning is the other ways of
student to study or to get the information if they can’t attend the class. From this,
student can attend a course at anytime from anyway. That mean, the student can
attend the class from anywhere inthe world that has internet access. So, they can still
get the information aboutcourses. Beside that, online classrooms also provide chat
rooms and news groups for meetings and joint work. From this, it helps the student to
share information and give opinion in certain topic. For example, when student have a
problem in study or misunderstands in some topic in the class, they can get the
information from this online group discussion. Student also fined the course material that
may not be available in the library or from their reading. So, at the same time students
can get more information and knowledge about the topic they found. Advantage of
online learning is the course material is accessible 24 hour a day 7 days a week. From
this material, students have the ability to read, discussion, explanation and comment.
Using the internet to attend class, research information and communication with other
students teaches skills in using technologies that will be critical to workers in the 21st
century business community that works with colleagues globally and across time zones.
Chairperson : We have listened to student and counselor opinion about online learning, now, I
would like to post next question to professor Yokhanah, may you share with all the
audience for tonight, why you strongly recommended your students to do online

4. learning?
Lecturer :Thank you to miss chairperson. Online learning is other option for students to improve
their knowledge. As a lecturer, I also encourage my students to learn English by online.
For instance,I suggest them to surf MyLinE website. For your information, this website
provides additional resources for learning in English for academic and professional
purposes. Besides that, it does also provide a platform for self-access interactive
learning. The learning process will be more attractive andinteresting instead of learning
in class. There are many activities provided inthis website. The most attracted me is
the student forum site. This is a placefor sharing of experience and ideas as students in
a university. They canexpress their views and opinions on academic and non-academic
issues, seek assistance or they can communicate with other fellow students. The other
one is ‘Correct My English’ site. This is a platform where students can post a shorttext
that has written and other users could help correct the text. I believe thatthis is one of the
affective ways of learning but yes, there will be pro and cons.It depends on the students
to decide.
Chairperson : Well, from what Prof Yokhanah mentioned just now, for every good thing there
must be a bad thing on it. The same thing goes for online learning. What do you
think about the negative impact of Online Learning Dr.?
Counselor: The disadvantage of online learning is lack of interaction you will get with classmates
and instructor. For example, in the class, students have a change to speaking in
class presentation and discussion and give their own opinion clearly. But in online
learning, student just can sit at the front of the laptop, type their opinion and wait the
answer. The second disadvantage is missing out non-verbal communication. As we

5. know, non-verbal communication is very important than verbal communication. Non-
verbal communication is also know as body language which refer to, among other
things, gestures people make while speaking, eye contacts and the way they stands.
In online learning students just can communicate as actual words. Lastly, In order to
succeed at online learning, you have to have some specific skills. You have to be self
motivated, responsible for your own learning and have good time management skills.
If you don't have those skills, traditional classes may be a better choice for you.
Chairperson: Prof Yokhanah, could you please tell us what is the different between student who
practice online learning and who are not?
Lecturer : There are different between the students who practice online learning and who are not.
For my students who are practice online learning, they have improved a lot. That’s why I
ask all of my students practice online learning. This is compulsory for them and extra
credits will be given. I would like to advise all of the students to take this opportunity to
improve their knowledge not only in English but in all fields of study. Please use the
technology for good purposes that will give benefits to you, especially in your study.
Chairperson: Back to Punitha, where do you heard about this online learning and how it give
impacts to your academic achievement?
Student: In the university I become more interested in online learning since i realized there are
plenty of advantages for me. I was introduced to online learning through my friends.
They shared with me all the online websites learning such as wikipedia, portal
pendidikan utusan, myline online resources for learning in English and many more.
Furthermore, my lecturers also advised us to find additional informations through the
websites that are linked to our subjects.Since the lecturers also are using technology

6. so they give the links where we should refer to. The websites help us to gain more
knowledge by surfing internet. This additional information is important because the
contents I get from the reference books, lecture notes and text book are not enough.
There are too many assignments I have to do. However all of them are grouping
activities. Sometimes, my friends and I share the online web learning whenever and
wherever we want to. In this group discussion, we will discuss what wefind and we
gathered all together. We will make hard copy for each of us. Finally we can use it as our
references in our preparation towards final examination. My parent and family also
supported me in this way of learning. As I cannot access internet at home due to no
wireless connection, my parents bought a broadband for me. So from the sources, now I
can easily continue using online learning. That’s all from me. Thank you.
Chairperson : “Congratulation, Punitha. Now we know that online learning is proven to boost
everyone knowledge”. Finally we have come to the end of our forum for tonight
where we have shared a lot of knowledge which we don’t even know before.
Online learning is build up with the modern technology nowadays. Besides the
good things there is also bad thing. So it is everyone right to choose. For the last
word from me, I would like to thank again to all ladies and gentlemen for tonight and
also to our panels. A billion thank I dedicate to everyone for cheering up thisforum
for tonight.
See you again for next week on the other issue.