KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 pandemic has seen private colleges and universities forced to switch from in-person teaching to online learning.
Traditional examinations are also being replaced with other forms of assessments following the Movement Control Order (MCO) being enforced.
Students, however, have expressed concern over the efficiency and accountability of online testing and assessment.
In addressing this, the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU) said students should not assume and treat alternative assessments as being “easier”.
This, its president Datuk Parmjit Singh said, is because the degree of challenge posed by approved alternative assessments may be at par, if not more stringent, than traditional examination methods.
The Higher Education Ministry and Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), he said, have issued guidelines for these alternative methods.
“Each alternative assessment approach must be designed to ensure that students achieve the learning outcomes for the subject and course.
“This has to go through a review and quality assurance procedures and ultimately be approved by the university’s Senate.
“Proper alignment with programme learning outcomes is extremely important. Besides, any alternative method will have to be in full compliance with the directives and guidelines issued by MQA,” he told the NST.
Parmjit said although almost all academic and operational aspects of higher education institutions have been affected by the MCO, early preparedness and mitigation plans have softened the impact and ensured a smooth transition to e-learning.
Most universities, he said, expected teething problems to occur, particularly in the early stages due to limited access to reasonable quality internet bandwidth, especially for students in rural or remote areas; and the ability of digital learning platforms to withstand the sudden increase in load.
Other issues were differences in time zones, as students who are back in their countries of origin have to attend virtual classes based on Malaysian time; as well as staff capability to “deliver” e-learning as they vary greatly even within institutions.
“This includes familiarity with the platforms and tools as well as the pedagogical demands of online learning that they never had to think of in conventional delivery.
“Students also had difficulties adjusting to a learning paradigm where they could not just raise their hands, ask a question in class and get immediate feedback, but had to do more background reading before each class and engage in online discussions.”
Parmjit said a recent survey, however, found that MAPCU member institutions have been well prepared for this shift to e-learning, where students have been overwhelmingly receptive.
Among the industry-leading tools and technologies used by educators, he said, were Microsoft Teams, Moodle, WhatsApp, Blackboard, Open Learning Platform, WizIQ, Zoom, Facebook Livestream, Google Classrooms, Google Suites and Google Meet.
Parmjit said classes are generally conducted in line with published timetables to ensure that a sense of “normalcy” continues to exist, while alternative arrangements have been developed for assessments.
This, he said, includes new dates or alternative forms of assessments, semester exams through e-learning platforms, and final exam substituted by final assignments, projects, and papers.
“In developing these alternative arrangements, a primary consideration has been to ensure that students are able to progress in their programmes of study and ultimately graduate on time.”
On a related matter, Parmjit said the MCO took effect during a key recruitment season for Malaysian institutions of higher learning, particularly for local students, thus preparations and plans for recruitment activities had to be abandoned midway.
The impact, he said, would be much greater for institutions heavily involved and invested in international student recruitment and enrolment.
New intakes that were to have commenced as planned, had to be postponed to a later date but a few Institutions have commenced their new intakes in an online mode, he added.