THE PROBLEM FACED BY BEGINNER IN ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT 1.

INTRODUCTION

Advances in science and technology have led to a lot of dramatic changes in education, where before this we only have full time conventional education but now a day we have the other source to acquiring knowledge and information for example there are part time education, open distance learning, online learning and so on. Traditional education more to the face to face learning process between learner and the instructor in a stated place and time, which all the information and knowledge is flow from instructor to student. Student in conventional learning style are in passive situation which they receive the knowledge from instructor. While online learning more know as E-learning which is a online programs provide or offer a education through internet in various formats may be in video type, Emodule, education forum, or conversation between tutor and learner. Online learning does not has any time and venue limitation, the learning process is depend to leaner to organize it. Learner can set up a flexible learning time and place which suitable them and they will prepare information and get the required for learning task under the guidance of online instructor. Online learning mode allows the interaction between the other online learners across different state and countries. They will get the information from difference source using any manner and then exchange ideas through internet.

This report is organized as follow: section 2 is the elaborations of three main problem faced by the beginners in online learning environment. The three main problem that faced by the beginners are self management, strategy and technology, and environment influence. Then section 3 will discusses the proposed solutions and strategies to overcome the stated problem in section 2. Finally, summary will conduct refer on stated findings on the issue and solution for beginner of online learning environment.

2. PROBLEMS FACED BY BEGINNER IN ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT 2.1 Self Management As pointed by Simond, M (2008), Open and Distance Learning is a way of learning that focus on releasing learners from constraints of time and place whilst offering flexible learning opportunities. However, this freedom also lead the learners especially the

beginners in new learning styles to a lazy and undisciplined learning styles. Most of the online learner are married and working adults, they have families and jobs. So they are hard to balance within work and education.

As pointed by Whitehead, J (2006), A student needs good self-discipline to succeed online. The freedom and flexibility of e-learning is attractive to many people. So, when we talk about online learning, that means learner can choose any time and any place to start their learning process. But this learning method needed a learner who has a good self-discipline and they are no someone to monitor and giving instruction in their learning process. There are many distraction such as friends asking for a gathering, girl or boy friend ask for a movie at cinema, have a family day at every Friday night. These distraction was going on every day so it is hard for beginner learner to have their study. Those undisciplined learner will fall behind in their learning process. On the other hand, for a learner who has a high job responsibility, they are always 24 hours oncall to their job task, even though they have good self-discipline in their study but they still can not drew out a suitable learning time for their education.

Besides that, motivation from the others are also a importance point for online learner. In a traditional classroom, a interaction between instructor and classmate will help build up enthusiasm and motivation for the course, but it absolutely different with online learning methods where the online learning is more to self-study and self understanding. For beginning online learner, they are new and lack knowledge in the online learning environment. It take time for them to conform this new learning style, so in the beginning time they will feel hard and uneasy with this learning style. If they do not get any

motivation or helps from the other, they will fall behind and in the end quit from this learning style.

2.2 Technology and Strategy

As pointed by Simond, M (2008), in online distance learning, technology is the main conduit which information and communication flow. The compulsory equipment that needed for all online learner are internet access tool and computer. Besides that, they also need to have basic skills in computer and online usage, and understand simply English language. Because all the learning material is come from internet, and that is the only way for the online learner to complete the study. Computer usage may be is the simple thing for the new generation, but for the senior learner who just start their learning process through online is a big problem. Even though the new generation still have a small amount of people lack in computer and online usage.

The learning material that provided for the online learner might be e-module, audio or video tape material, computer referencing and computer-assisted instruction using internet. Normally these learning material are provided by instructor through the colleges official website. But some of these official website do not provided a friendly usage platform for the learner to download the material. The next challenge faced by beginning online learner is they need to have proper training and skills in order to maximize the usage of library database program such as the OPAC (Simond, M (2008).

Meanwhile, technical problems also faced by online learner. A low internet connection in some area might cause the online learner cant get the information on time and delay the assignment submit date. Viruses and Trojans attack the computer user, needed of newest software to support the latest online learning platform, computer hardware break down at inopportune time also the problem faced by online learner.

2.3 Environment Influence

Kosur, H. M.(2011) stated that just like students in a traditional school environment, open distance learners must create a dedicated place for studying and learning to take place, a successful students commit to a time to study and a place to study. Beginner learners have freedom to choose their study places, if there is a suitable study environment is no problem, but if the study environment have many interfere how can the learner continue their study. The interfere may be come from friends, neighbors, family, and also the place chooses.

Additionally, Kosur, H. M.(2011) and Simond, M (2008) have same opinion that the beginner learners face some problems in relating and interacting with peers and loss of social interactions in learning environment. It is hard for the learner to have a study group caused by the by the difference in the usage of time between students. When there are less interacting with peers, it is difficult to improve oral communication skills.

3. SOLUTIONS

3.1 Solutions For Self Management Problem

In order to overcome these self management problems, learners must first plan and manage their time effectively in order to balancing work, family and study. Learner have to apply smart time management by analyse their use of time and set the amount of time is use for studies then set priorities to take charge the difference situation. A most effective way for learners to manage their study is plan a study schedule such as timetables. So they can balancing work, family and study then achieve their goals.

Motivation is something that energises, directs and sustains behavior towards a particular goal( Osman. Z, 2010). Learner need to motivate their own self by setting achievable goals and have a positive attitude. When learner not in mood or feel fatigued, they should have a rest but no continue study, they must maintain a positive attitude and always learn from mistakes so the learning process can be continue. . A learner who lack in concentration need to identify the cause and then control the factors and next is keep the control process as a habitual until they improve their concentration.

3.2 Strategy And Technology Usage

Lewis,(2003) stated that the better the learning tasks you design, the fewer questions learners will need to ask and the more likely they will be to complete the programme. A friendly user platform will let learners to get the information and learning material more easier and faster. So for those learners who are lacking in computer skills and English language skills and other study skills, they need to try hard and hardworking to improve their lacks because not all skills will be taught by the tutor.

Learning strategies also a important point for the beginner online learner to achieve their study goal. Most of the learner have a traditional learning style in their mind which they always waiting the instructor to give the information and knowledge, but it is difference compare with online learning. To success in online learning, learner must get the information themselves and study it. When they do not understand the learning material, they need to discuss it in forum with peers and tutor. A group discussion also can be conduct due to the assignment discussion, information sharing and interaction between peers.

3.3 Solution For Environment Influence

Having a proper learning environment are very important for learners. Normally learner will choose their study place at library and home. Library is the most suitable place for study but not suitable for everyone and it has time limitation. So learners must have a suitable study area may be a study room to helps them concentrating their study, and refuse any invitation or gathering during the study time. Lack of socializing interferes with gaining peer and instructor interactions can be reduce by conduct a online video call among the learners. Due to lack of meeting time with peers, they can build up a study group to discuss and sharing the information. All is depend the effort of learner to achieve their goals.

4. CONCLUSION

Online learning is the new era in the future to fulfill the adult learner who need or want to continue their education. This mode of learning is growing fast as a method of getting education and training (Kistan 2001). But there are some problem that facing by beginning online learners which it can divide by three main problem there are self management problem, technology and strategy usage, and the other one is environment influence. The solutions suggested to the beginning online learner are they should have a time management skill and plan a suitable plan for their study process. Then they must find out a suitable learning environment so they can concentrate in the study. Next learner must enhance their computer and technology skills so they can get the learning material easily from internet. If the problems that faced by the beginning online learner are no resolved, they will miss the way in learning process, loss efficiency in the studies, and fail or not perform well in studies. If the problems that they faced do not get adequate support, they will get negative stress and in the end they might give up their education learning.

5. REFERENCES a. Lewis, Whitlock, R., Quentin, A. (2003). How to Plan and Manage an E-Learning Programme. Gower Publishing Limited. In Ebrary (OUM Digital Collection).

b. Simond, M. (2008). Online Education : Issues and Challenges in Open and Distance Learning [Online]. Available : [2011, February 1]. c. Whitehead, J. (2006). Online Education : The Challenges of Online Education [Online]. Available : http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jesse_Whitehead. d. Rice-Linn, P. (2011). Online Education : Problems Faced by Open Distance Learners. [Online]. Available : http://www.brighthub.com/education/onlinehttp://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mathew_Simond.

learning/articles/104046.aspx#ixzz1C98Vd54M. e. Murugaiah, P., Siew, M.T. (2010). The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning. Development of Interactive and Reflective Learning among Malaysian Online Distant Learners. 11(3), 4-13.