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E-LEARNING & INNOVATION

The e-Learning Academy (eLA) is established with the specific mandate to drive and support the implementation of blended learning at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus. The name ‘academy’ reflects its core purpose as the unit which promotes ‘learning how to teach with technology’. eLA’s aims to assist our lecturers in integrating the use of technology into teaching and learning effectively, empowering students in their learning and preparing them with skills required for the 21st Century.

E-LEARNING IN ACTION

OUR GOALS

All these are achievable and driven by the following goals:

At Taylor’s Lakeside Campus, the term ‘blended learning’ is adopted as a principal means of addressing the use of technology combined with the best features of face to face interaction to enhance its learning and teaching activities. Since its establishment in 2011, eLA has been aggressive in driving ambitious journey to re-define student learning for better academic outcomes. Various research supported e-Learning initiatives such myTIMeS, ReWIND Lecture Capture, X-Space Collaborative Classroom and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) have been implemented to provide a unique learning experience for Taylor’s students.

E-LEARNING TESTIMONIES

OUR FACILITIES

X-SPACE
Collaborate and engage with peers in X-Space, a technology-rich classroom designed for flexible formal learning spaces which facilitates a diverse learning experience.
myTIMeS
Learn anytime and anywhere in an interactive autonomous environment through myTIMeS which hosts an array of online learning features.
VX-Learning Theatre
Eliminates the feeling of social isolation, stay motivated, connect and collaborate without distractions through VX Learning Theatre, the global classroom that combines teaching excellence with learning innovation to support hybrid learning.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

2022

QS-Wharton Reimagine Education Awards (Science of Learning Award category)


Anugerah Khas YB Menteri Pendidikan Rekabentuk Kurikulum dan Penyampaian Inovatif (AKRI 2022)

Transformative Teaching - 3rd Place 

Assoc Prof Dr Adeline Chia Yoke Yin & Team, School of Biosciences
Redesigning Biomedical Science Practicum towards a New Frontier

Innovative Programme – 3rd Place

Tee Wee Jing & Prof Azween Abdullah, School of Computer Science
Transdisciplinary Degree Pathway Innovation – Bachelor of Computer Science


IUCEL (International University Carnival on e-Learning) 2022

Best Trend Setter Award (Individual)

Serit Banyan, School of Liberal Arts and Science
Digitalizing the Teaching of Mata Pelajaran Umum Through Innovative Pedagogy

Outstanding e-Learning Mobile Apps Award

Puteri Sofia Amirnuddin, Taylor's Law School
Mike Choong Wai Keng and Razif Mohamed, Taylor's Design School

LAWLEYPOP APP

Best E-Learning Facilitator Award (Individual) 

Dr. Charles Sharma Naidu, Taylor's Design School
The Online Gamified Classroom Approach

Outstanding Open Education Resources (OER) Award

Ms. Nurhanim Hassan, Centre for Future Learning
Dr Phelim, Dr Yap Wei Hsum, Dr Renuka Sellapan & Dr Enna Ayub

Sharing of Reusable Learning Objects (RLOS) to Digitise Healthcare Curriculum

IIDEL, Gold Recipients Award

Dr Myzatul Aishah Hj Kamarazaly & Team, School of Architecture, Building and Design

MGUIDE (AR-Tool for Measurement Education)

Khairool Aizat Ahmad Jamal & Team, School of Architecture, Building and Design

Role Of Virtualization to Influence Iterative Design Learning In Architecture Module


eConDev 2022

Special Award

Gold Award

Dr Filzani Illia (School of Architecture, Building and Design) & Team (Pitching)

Enhanced 5E Framework for ARC62404 Design Communication

Dr Wong Yau Hsiung (School of Liberal Arts and Sciences)

Interactive Storytelling with Gamified Virtual Reality (VR)

Dr Vinothini Vasodavan (School of Education & Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management))

Collaborative TPACK: A Module for Innovative Pedagogies and Powerful Learning

Dr Prabal Bhargava (School of Medicine & Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences); Mohd Radzy Omar (eLA, Centre for Future Learning)

Building a compendium of OERs for clinical training in Ophthalmology

Siti Noor Amyah Khasbullah (School of Liberal Arts and Sciences) &Team

Cultivating International Ideals on Falsafah dan Isu Semasa through Blended Learning using TIMES

2021

eConDev 2021

Special Award (Most Active MOOC)

AP Dr Saeed Pahlevan Sharif & Team, Taylor's Business School

Systematic Literature Review for All: A Cool MOOC

Gold Award

Dr Priya Madhavan & Team, School of Medicine

Microbiology Laboratory Practical at Your Fingertips

AP Dr Saeed Pahlevan Sharif & Team, Taylor's Business School

Systematic Literature Review for All: A Cool MOOC

Zaim Azizi Abu Bakar & Team, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Value-Based Education in MPU 4 Social Innovation Project

Fadhilah Raihan Lokman & Team, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Cultivate and Nurture Empathy-Ready Mindset through Value-Based Education.

Dr Ambikai S Thuraisingam & Team, Taylor's Law School

Strengthening Immersive Virtual Learning with ClassPoint

Dr Norzaini Zainal Abidan & Team, School of Architecture, Building and Design

Flipped Classroom to Engage Project-based Design in Energy Module

AP Ts. Dr Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam & Team, School of Education

CODE: The New Normal Design Thinking Framework


IUCEL (International University Carnival on e-Learning) 2021


Innovation Competition and Exhibition (InCEx’21)

Best Product Awards (Teaching and Learning)

Dr Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam & Team, School of Computer Science and Engineering

RLx New Normal Pedagogy

Gold Award

Dr Chockalingam Aravind Vaithilingam & Team, School of Computer Science and Engineering

RLx New Normal Pedagogy

Dr Myzatul Aishah Kamarazaly & Team, School of Architecture, Building and Design

Augmented Reality as an Educational Tool in Quantity Take Off

2019

Anugerah Khas YB Menteri Pendidikan Rekabentuk Kurikulum dan Penyampaian Inovatif (AKRI 2019):


IUCEL (International University Carnival on e-Learning) 2019:

Taylor's E-Learning team won the Gold Award for IIDEL

National e-Content Development Competition 2019 (eConDev 2019): 

Taylor's E-learning team was awarded as Gold Medal Recipients & BEST MOOC Award in eConDev 2019
2018

Anugerah Khas YB Menteri Pendidikan Rekabentuk Kurikulum dan Penyampaian Inovatif (AKRI 2018):

Transformative Teaching (Alternative Assessment) – 3rd Place

Micro-credentials and Digital Badges: Evidence-Based Achievement Beyond Assessments

Taylorr's E-Learning team wom the Transformative Teaching 3rd Place in AKRI 2018

IUCEL (International University Carnival on e-Learning) 2018:  

Taylor's E-Learning team was awarded as the winner in Re-Designing and Transformation Formal Learning Classrooms through Mobile X-Space

National e-Content Development Competition 2018 (eConDev 2018)

Taylor's E-Learning team won the Gold Award in eConDev2018

FAQ

SEMESTER LEARNING
With a prolonged interruption to the usual daily in-class and on-campus teaching-learning activities due to the Covid-19 virus situation, is the online mode of teaching-learning the best solution to ensure students have continuity in their studies?

It is probably the only teaching and learning option available to us right now, with the other alternative being not conducting lessons at all for an extended period of time, if we’re looking at lockdown trends of various affected countries. It is the institution’s responsibility to ensure its students and staff are safe first; and second - students have continuity in their studies. Many parents have written to Taylor’s and are anxious about whether the Covid-19 pandemic will disrupt to their children’s studies.

Massive advancements in communications technology allows the virtual learning environment (VLE) to be as effective as learning physically on campus. Lecturers can now conduct lectures, tutorials and practical demonstrations synchronously (real-time) in an engaging virtual classroom. Tools such as Micosoft Teams, Zoom, Google Classroom, Skype, Padlet, Labster, Lecturio, Orca Health and many more are widely used by Taylor’s lecturers.

In fact, the upside to this online learning experience is that it will enhance students’ capability to operate in a globalised virtual world, resembling the way most businesses operate when they graduate. This is the perfect opportunity for students to build their collaborative, independent and self-directed learning abilities which are key skills of the future.

How ready is Taylor’s for a fully digital / online teaching-learning scenario?

After the SARS epidemic hit Hong Kong and Singapore and disrupted learning in schools and universities for weeks, Taylor’s developed an e-Learning Masterplan at a cost of almost RM50 million over 5 years.  The objective was not only to enrich and complement F2F learning but to prepare for a time like this – a partial or fully lockdown of the university and college. Taylor’s invested in a state-of-the-art Learning Management System, Lecture Capture System, remote communication tools and applications, expanded hardware capabilities and created over 1000 course microsites, for each course taught in the university.

Taylor’s Lecture Capture System, ReWIND has over 40,000 recorded lectures to (with audio, visual, presentation slides, and other module related content) which is available to students online. It is developed by lecturers themselves to maximize their teaching efficiency and assist students’ learning. Students can to fast-forward, rewind, or skip to particular segments they desire,

In addition to all the above, our eLearning Academy team has made available and trained our lecturers to use various platforms and software for recording, video editing, resource sharing, online collaborations, polling, assessment, and even creating virtual labs.

Taylor’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and learning innovations has won over 35 national and international awards since 2012.

In the last 7 years, when the haze interrupted classes for several days each year, Taylor’s switched to e-learning as part of our class continuity plan. It did the same when President Obama’s visit to the Lakeside Campus halted classes for 2 days.

So, Taylor’s believe it is ready because digital learning has always been embedded in our everyday teaching and learning even prior to the Movement Control Order (MCO). Due to the MCO until 14 April 2020, which could even be extended further, lectures, tutorials and assessments for April semester will be conducted online till 31 May 2020.

Not all lecturers are technically-inclined. How can this issue be addressed in a non-physical environment?

Taylor’s emphasises the need for constant and clear communication from the beginning. Engagement is key. Lecturers need to be very clear in their communication of what is expected of the student, and what steps to follow. Taylor’s has also highlighted the need for increased pastoral care at all levels, from Deans to Programme Directors.

Taylor’s has disseminated guidelines for lecturers to follow, with regards to online assessment. For example, students should have an opportunity, where possible, to trial any unfamiliar method, without grading. Also students should be given clear comprehensive instructions on all aspects of the operation and completion of the online assessment, including information on required file formats and the number of attempts allowed for that assessment component.

Our eLearning Academy team is working very hard to support all our academics and guiding them through virtual consultations throughout the semester. Taylor’s lecturers are now being supported by Online Webinars in the areas of Online Assessment and Online Learning and Teaching to enhance their capability.

How will online classes be conducted? Will I have sufficient opportunity to engage with my lecturers and ask questions?

The lectures and tutorials will be delivered in a manner that is synchronous and asynchronous. This is explained thoroughly in the Contingency Plan Document that each school has emailed to their students. In that plan, an explanation has been given on how students can engage with their academics effectively. Lecturers will engage with students based on this contingency plan.

Will I have access to meet my lecturers if I cannot cope with my lessons online? Will my lecturers offer me extra consultation time?

Yes, the lecturers will provide all students with consultation time for students to contact and engage with them. Yes, if extra consultation time is needed, please reach out to your lecturers and clarify any doubts. Please directly raise any concerns that you have with the Program Director or the Head of School if there are any issues with sufficiency of consultation.

In addition to online classes for lectures and tutorials, how will online assessments be conducted and what sort of support will I have for assessments?

For the months of April and May (during Week 1 to 7) all assignments that are due must be submitted online based on the contingency plan that has been shared with the students and the instructions by the module lecturer. Feedback will also be given, based on the contingency plan. Your lecturers will support you as much as possible for this and give you all the necessary instructions.

I am not used to learning online and I find it ineffective. What can I do?

There are lots of tutorials online that will guide you on how you can make online learning effective for yourself. During these unprecedented and challenging times, there will be adjustments that you will need to make, albeit, at times, difficult. If you need any assistance, you can always reach out to your lecturers or friends for help. All students must follow closely the instructions that will be given by their lecturers for the respective modules so that the learning can continue without any hindrance.

Why doesn’t the University just postpone the entire semester to August so that we can then resume face to face lessons instead of having to pursue our studies online? Is online learning the only mode available to enable continuity in learning?

As we are not able to estimate accurately when the current situation will abate, it may be best for learning to continue so that we are not hindered by this challenge. The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) have issued guidelines for all Universities in the country for online learning so that learning may continue without further delay. However, students who feel that they would like to consider further options to delay their studies may discuss this with the Program Director or the Head of School to see what is best for them individually in the given situation so that they could then make an informed decision.

SEMESTER FEES

Please refer to the Announcement posted on the Campus Central Portal.

Will there be any reduction in tuition or resource fees?
Why isn't the resource fee reduced since half of the semester we are not going to be on campus utilizing the facilities?

The resource fee covers the provision of teaching and learning resources and facilities including  online library, virtual learning resources, assessment, IT services and student services that will continue to be provided to meet students’ learning and support needs.

Additionally, faculties continued to enhance the availability of other resources where:

  • Software installation depot are made accessible to students to install various software essential for specific modules in the programmes
  • Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Padlet, Labster, Lecturio, Orca Health and many more are now available online teaching platforms integrated into our TIMeS to facilitate online tutoring and skills demonstrations
  • Additional manpower and physical resources were put in to prepare for online teaching and practical sessions. As online teaching is resource-intensive, Trainers were brought in to train our lecturers to prepare materials to facilitate online teaching.
  • From a system perspective, we need to provide greater capacity in terms of storage and performance. The university also improved its bandwidth management to sustain the expected heavy usage during the initial weeks of the semester
  • Stringent processes in health screenings, replenishing sanitizers in common areas, stocking-up face masks, cleaning and disinfecting practices are carried out to safeguard the general health of the community in the university. This is absolutely important so that when we welcome students back on campus, they can be assured of the environment they study in

 

It is important to highlight that resource fees are necessary for the upkeep of all our facilities. The operating costs to maintain these facilities is necessary to ensure that when students come back to the university, they are readily available and operational.

LIBRARY RESOURCES
What about practical classes, sessions and assessments?

Please refer to the COVID-19 Contingency Plans issued by your respective schools.

Will the physical library be open?

Unfortunately, no. In response to the recent developments on the COVID-19 outbreak, Taylor's Library will be closed from Wednesday, 18th March 2020 until Sunday, 31st May 2020.

Will I be able to pay fines and return books?

No. Self-Check (borrowing), Fine Payments and Book Returns will not be available during the closing period.  

If I return books on the 1st of June 2020, will I be fined for returning a book late?

No. If the books you borrowed were supposed to be returned during the closing period, the late return fines will be waived. 

Will the extended hour study rooms be closed?

Yes. All the facilities on campus would be closed, including the extended hour study rooms until 31st May 2020.

OTHERS
Will there be any events organized by the extra-curricular activities at the University this semester?

All face to face events / activities for the months of April, May and June 2020 have been postponed. At the University, student services and engagement will continue, online, and students may consult the student council for further information on this. The various departments will reach out to students when the semester starts.