Ph.D. Phan Thi Ngoc Thanh: “Elearning breaks the boundaries and barriers of space and time”
Recently, Ph.D. Phan Thi Ngoc Thanh – Director of the Online Training Center had an interview with a reporter of Vietnamnet news about the online Bachelor’s degree study method of the Open University of Ho Chi Minh City. She said that to go into operation, the University had to prepare carefully and seriously, the quality was put on top and the learners were taken as the center.
Here are the details of the interview:
The learning model for proactive people
– How does the eLearning Center make online learning different from traditional learning?
Online learning breaks the boundaries and barriers of space and time, learners can actively arrange their study time at any time, anywhere if there is a mobile device or computer connected to the internet. Therefore, online training programs were born to give learners the most convenience so that they can study at any time as well as flexibly arrange their time according to their schedules.
However, Elearning requires learners to be very active to complete the learning process on schedule. Each subject includes different topics with the amount of knowledge broken down by week by level from easy to difficult and learners need to follow the sequence of topics as prescribed by the course.
– Can you tell us who can register for online learning?
Currently, online programs are mainly for working people who want to improve their knowledge and skills with a very diverse audience of students of different ages.
Our online bachelor’s degree program has many audiences ranging from 22 to 60 years old. Many students are now managers of companies and businesses. We are also targeting high school students. I think high school graduates who don’t want to spend about 4 years sitting in school can enroll in this method. They can both work and study at the same time.
Program equivalent to the formal educational system
– There are many people who are very vague about online training and do not believe in this form. How does the Center give them confidence?
This is an issue that we also receive many questions from students. Before studying, although we consult very carefully, many students think that learning online is very simple. They just study with the material and then study for the exam.
Many students after the learning process “wow” because online learning is not as simple as they once thought. They say it’s like being back in school. Our program focuses on the learning process, learners actively participate in learning activities, exercises, and discussions on forums… to accumulate process points and then take the final test in the form of a centralized exam.
Compared with the formal educational program, the content of the online bachelor’s program is similar. Students complete assignments, and learning activities, and take tests to measure how well they understand and grasp knowledge.
We have complete control over learning because these activities are saved on the system and with just one click, we will know how the student’s learning progress is. In addition, in each process, students must meet the set criteria to be transferred to another process. Learners will take the final exam at the campus or its satellite centers under the supervision of a supervisory team to ensure objectivity and transparency.
– In addition to knowledge, how does online training improve students’ skills?
We understand that besides professional knowledge, students need skills such as foreign language skills, soft skills, adaptability, and change to adapt quickly. The online training program is built straight into the major in order from basic to advanced.
Besides the specialized subjects, students can alternate general subjects to avoid boredom. Because the subjects are mainly working, they apply the knowledge they have learned into practice immediately afterward.
In addition, the center always organizes meetings with business experts to connect and create conditions for students to get acquainted and exchange experiences. They can also participate in group activities like traditional school students.
– What advice do you have for your students?
I used to study many subjects online. I believe that mastering the time and determining the acquisition of knowledge to develop a career as well as develop a plan for yourself is important to be able to study online successfully.
Today, learning does not just stop at the level of giving and receiving between teachers and students, but learners can search for knowledge online to improve their knowledge. Many people say that online learning has no instructors and does not reach the desired knowledge. The reality is not like that because every model is different only in the way of training, however, the destination is the quality. This is also a way for us to build trust with learners.
Source: Vietnamnet News.
