Challenges and Strengths of Online Education in Myanmar - Dr. Thazin Lwin
Dr. Thazin Lwin, Professor and Head of Chemistry at Yangon University of Distance Education, discusses the challenges and strengths of online education in Myanmar. The outline covers general action planning, change management, capacity development, and digital assessment systems. Highlighted strengths include experience in online learning, strong ICT support, and strategic partnerships. However, there are weaknesses like staff retention issues and the need for advanced technical skills and improved internet access.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Dr Thazin Lwin Professor & Head Department of Chemistry Yangon University of Distance Education MYANMAR 21 March 2025 1
The Challenge of Online Education Learning Systems in Myanmar tzl2013.tt@gmail.com, drthazinlwin,yude@gmail.com 14 October, 2019 21 March 2025 2
OUTLINE YUDE s General Action Planning YUDE s Change Management Action Planning (for Developing an Effective Online System) Action Planning (for Capacity Development) Action Planning (for Learning Digital Assessment Systems) 21 March 2025 3
YUDEs General Action Planning 21 March 2025 4
Background 21 March 2025 5
STRENGTHS with YUDE Main institution with the longest experience in online learning in Myanmar (since 2012) Relatively easier than others to get help from partners and get the students' attention/participation in the implementation of changes Partners working together include: KMD and other ICT companies (in Private-Public Partnership) Has a relatively stronger ICT support team 21 March 2025 6
STRENGTHS (cont.) Easier logistic matters due to its location in Yangon (Textbooks, References, Publication, Transport, etc.) Degrees-offering Distance Educational University Good and strong infrastructure: with potentials of providing more classrooms for different kinds of training E-library Closely linked to Yangon University, the main university in the country 21 March 2025 7
WEAKNESSES Rigid staff mobility in the education system sometimes makes it difficult to retain the experienced staff (eg. TIDE participants) Now, many formers activities of YUDE have been handed over to other institutions, leaving it with fewer chances of experimenting with Distance Learning methods. The academic staff and ICT Support Team may need to learn more advanced technical skills Need for technical aids including the improved wifi/Internet Access (BUDGETS!) 21 March 2025 8
WEAKNESSES (contd.) Lack of reliable and feasible assessment forms (Testing) applicable and compatible with Teaching Students' declining interest in distance education (mainly due to the old policy of Quantity in priority over Quality) Lack of continuous, independent and reliable research and development Need for reinforcement of more up-to-date personal computers and accessories 21 March 2025 9
WEAKNESSES (contd.) criticisms pointing out that educational quality of the country declined in the 1960s onward due to the political situations of the country, but with recent political changes in transition, education became an object of attention as a starting point towards the development of the country in general and that of economy in particular. As part of its vision to generate a society capable of challenging today's heated issues, YUDE incorporates the challenge of updating its scope into a wider perspective 21 March 2025 10
OPPORTUNITIES with YUDE More activities will be seen with new changes triggered. There will be more chances of encouragement and support from the other stakeholders with the success of any activity. More challenging and experiences can be created to enable the related community to keep abreast with the times. more engaging learning 21 March 2025 11
THREATS for YUDE Open to criticism and blame for any mistakes since it is receiving others' attention May have to resort to the former teaching methods (due to difficulties that could be solved through strategic management and critical thinking) Time allotment or management should be considered for achieving the ambitious goals; otherwise, its aims and objectives will be seen 'groundless' and 'fruitless'. 21 March 2025 12
THREATS (contd.) Amusingly, a lot of people who belong to the age- groups of students at YUDE are gaining more and more access to the Internet Such telecommunication systems as MPT, Telenor and Ooredoo. Hopefully, this paves way for the students' active participation in distance education. 21 March 2025 13
THREATS (contd.) Figure 1: Pre-study of Participants Internet Access (Service) 21 March 2025 14
YUDEs Change Management 21 March 2025 15
Action Planning (for Developing an Effective Online System) Yangon University of Distance Education (YUDE) tries to provide the best learning opportunities to its enthusiastic students. It uses the innovative assistance of ICT support team, the experience of the educators working at Yangon University of Distance Education and the help insights from the UK-based Transformation of Innovation by Distance Education (TIDE). TIDE (currently working for the betterment of online pedagogic methods), ICT Support Team, Related Academic Departments, the Rector and the Administrative Board. Offering more effective and more applicable courses than ever. 21 March 2025 16
Developing an Effective Online System(contd.) YUDE is presently assisted by TIDE in many of such aspects. TIDE trains one batch after another of teachers with a view to coping with modern online teaching methods and helps them come up with new teaching ideas. Thus, every single department in YUDE has now prepared various online courses such as certificate, diploma, bachelor and master degrees. Chemistry Department prepared courses in Good Manufacturing Practice for Food Safety and Water and Sanitation for Public Health for the coming academic year, all oriented towards fully three-month online certificate courses conducted under MoE, Myanmar 21 March 2025 17
Action Planning (for Learning Digital Assessment Systems) To explore the exploitability of digital assessment systems currently popular with open universities, and find out an appropriate form of assessment for YUDE with some glittering hopes To introduce the faculty members to the different types of assessment that can be done online To create a user-friendly system that will be able to utilize new technologies for assessing YUDE students. 21 March 2025 18
Learning Digital Assessment Systems(contd.) To build a test inventory or data bank that will pave way for engaging and challenging quizzes and puzzles To train the faculty members to benefit as much as possible from the current technologies for education To conduct a course for YUDE faculty members with special focus on digital assessment systems 21 March 2025 19
Conclusion A joint model with the help of a resourceful outsider like TIDE is an essential one allows the flow of ideas between different cultures for students yields the required capability to select the supply plan of the online learning systems, improves the interaction with the environment. 21 March 2025 20
Conclusion (contd.) Apparently, key players have strengths plus weaknesses, opportunities along with risks. Special attention needed to have key players in online learning system Educational institution should start working on the weaknesses and improving English levels of students and of facilitators, ICT infrastructure, design of online learning system, courses offered etc. To mitigate the threats, a precise combination of traditional and online learning systems is required. 21 March 2025 21
Conclusion (contd.) The Future Open University which a variety of courses including vocational courses will be born in Myanmar after building better international links and more- variegated resources within the capacity of an autonomous university. 21 March 2025 22
References Abdelraheem, Ahmed Yousif. The Implementation of E-Learning in the Arab Universities: Challenges and Opportunities DLI 2006, Tokyo, Japan. Marlia Puteh, Supyan Hussin A Comparative Study of E-Learning Practices at Malaysian Private Universities , 1st International Malaysian Educational Technology Convention, 2 5th November 2007, Sofitel Palm Resort, Senai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Mon, M.T. & Tsuyoshi, U. (2017). Evaluation on e-Learning Readiness of Yangon and Mandalay Technological Universities, Myanmar. Proceedings of IEEE Region Ten Conference. https://doi.org/10.1109/TENCON.2017.8228202 Wannasiri, B., Oudone. X., Hangjung. Z., Jae., J. R. & Andrew, P.C. (2012). Critical Success Factors for E-learning in Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis between ICT Experts and Faculty.Computers&Education,58,843 855. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comp edu.2011.10.010 21 March 2025 23
Bohat Bohat Shukriya! 21 March 2025 25
