E-learning

It is never too late to learn something in life. Because everyday we actually do learn something  =)


These e-learning has been a new way to learn (in the same way to teach) all kind of forms through the use of technology and internet connection. E-learning makes studying become easier. 


There are several reasons why e-learning is beneficial:
http://www.tkk.fi/tapahtumat/opi-paivat/joannecurry.pdf

1. To overcome infrastructure and other resources constraints
2. To reach new learners (in example for people who are working and studying in the same time)
3. To revitalize faculty, staffs, institutional programs and services
4. To allow and encourage collaboration with other national and global providers
5. To improve learning experience for student (based on online discussion, etc)

How to make e-learning effective:

http://www.elearningguild.com/pdf/2/091002DES-H.pdf

1. The multimedia principle: adding graphics to words can improve learning
2. The contiguity principle: placing text near graphics improve learning
3. The modality principle: explaining graphics with audio improves learning
4. The redundancy principle: explaining graphics with audio and redundant text can hurt learning
5. The coherence principle: using gratuitous visuals, texts and sounds can hurt learning
6. The personalized principle: use conversational tone pedagogical agents to increase learning

My own experience:

with the fact that I am a UB-SIM student, sometimes I have to do online discussions which are up on the university blackboard. This is considered as e-learning. With the use of technology, I can do a discussion with various people all around the world who are taking the modules. It is amazing how things work. The discussion becomes interesting because different country might give different point of view. It does not only make me learn about particular module, but it makes me learn about appreciating one another and greater knowledge about the world's view =)

Future digital classroom:

It is possible if each one of the students will carry their own PC(or laptop) and they can start having their own classroom =) It will be amazing if we can have a classroom where we can connect and discuss and learn things together but we might not need to spend hours for transportation. And it will be amazing if things can be taught in 3D version, although we might not be in the same place as other people.

Microsoft Surface Technology:

Microsoft Surface (codename Milan) is a multi-touch product from Microsoft which is developed as a software and hardware combination technology that allows a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of gesture recognition. This could involve the motion of hands or physical objects. (wikipedia, 27th feb 2011)

This technology will be a big HIT, because even nowadays there are many businesses and government sectors that have been using this technology. 

Some reasons why it can be a successful technology because:

• Make content more engaging
• Plan and simulate
• Make learning more fun
• Transform the shopping experience
• Connect with customers through games and pastime
• Communicate and connect

Personally I have been amazed with this technology the 1st time I saw this technology from the internet. Nevertheless I believe that this technology does not only become a successful technology from microsoft, but it will become an utility for individuals/groups/private or government sectors.

E-learning does not only give an easiness to the learners, but in the same time it gives benefit to teachers/lecturers too. It may take sometimes for us to get use to it, but when you are familiar with it, e-learning can become a great tool for us to learn. Happy trying!!

E-commerce

"Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-comm, e-commerce or eCommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks." (wikipedia, retrieved on February 19th 2011)


As every single business works, it aims for profits and its successfulness through many ways possible. E-commerce as an electronic commerce has almost the same purpose, yet e-commerce has some differences in ways to make it such a successful business. Nevertheless, it is inevitable by the business to make sure some important features of e-commerce are in the website. Such as: 


Plan your strategic direction:
You should be clear about the products you sell, the target audience, their ability to buy, the competitive edge (whether someone else is selling that product and if yes, at what cost and with any added facilities or not).

Easy user interface:
Your online store should be easily navigable. From the home to the 'thank you’ page (the page that a shopper will get once he completes a purchase) everything should be optimized properly and have uniform display. All offers, discounts, terms etc. should be clearly mentioned in your store.

Build trust:
To run a successful online retail store, you will have to build trust. The best way of building trust is by giving your customers a sense of security. Your customers should feel that they are buying from an authentic source who will respect his/her privacy.

Offer all widely accepted payment methods:
The payment gateway you use in your store should readily process payments from your customers. Avoid those gateways with limited credit/debit card processing facilities.

Robust technology platform:
Your online shopping cart solution should be built on a robust technology platform such Microsoft .NET. A .NET-shopping cart can give the necessary interface to attain a truly scalable shopping cart solution that will withstand sudden sales-rush during those seasonal shopping sprees.

Have transparent policies:
The terms and conditions, return policies, out-of-stock policies, shipping time etc. are very important for all shoppers visiting your store. Keep these policies clearly defined and strictly adhere to your policies in every transaction.

Personalization:
Maintaining personalization is the key to success through any shopping cart solution. Your customers should know the type of products you are selling IMMEDIATELY on reaching your online shopping cart. Your products should be specific to your customers’ demography.

Incentives and discounts:
Online shoppers often look for best deals and bargains – so, give them freebies and discounts! Most importantly, while giving discounts or freebies, make loud and clear on your online shopping cart.

Manage your customers:
Encourage your customers to suggest changes and when you implement a suggestion – let the customer know. In addition, run polls, run communities and discuss about various beneficial aspects of your products. Be an expert in your line of business and solve customers’ issues.

Maintain a solid customer support:
Good customer support is the key to sustained growth of an online retail store. Display your contact details clearly on your store and answer your customers’ queries as quickly as you can. 

There are also factors why e-commerce might facing failure:

1. They do not find the optimal product

2. Our offer is not convincing enough

3. They do not trust some details of the offer

4. The process of the purchase is difficult and illogical

5. They cannot choose from our range of products

6. They do not find an appropriate method of payment

As like any other business, e-commerce needs to ensure that they have great marketing strategies too. It can be explained through this 10 minutes video:

Last but not least, e-commerce is also linked to the security, privacy and legal issues.

Tips for Keeping Your Computer Secure

• Introduction
• Firewalls, Anti-virus programs, and Anti-malware programs
• Choosing Your Software
• Using Your Computer Safely

Nevertheless, internet users need to be aware that whenever they are going to particular website (such as payment page), it is important to make sure that the link of the website needs to be https:// to ensure its secureness. And it is also important to manage what should we reveal to the public (in this case the other internet users) and what we should keep to ourselves. Thus that people are not able to misused our information.

It is indeed inevitable to disregard internet and its usefulness. However as smart internet users, we need to ensure that we have read well the terms&conditions and information that we reveal.

And whenever anyone wants to start an e-commerce, as business organization, it is important to ensure the basic key factors of success are in the website. Thus potential buyers are attracted and purchase goods from the website. It is also important to manage the customers you already have. Because these loyal customers might help you become even more famous, through mouth marketing, in which it is a FREE cost for the business yet it gives huge benefits to the organization. 

Good Luck if you are going to start a new e-commerce =) and if you are already doing an e-commerce, keep maintaining your good work! =D

week 4 - Social Networking

Twitter.com started on 15th July 2006 has become one of the most famous social networking website. Works like a mini blogging, twitter has reported 190 million accounts  as in 2010. Users can do more than just sending words to its followers, but users can post videos-photos and even where they are at on a particular moment. Let's check out what is twitter in plain english

Even from this 2-minutes 25seconds, we can see how twitter has become a useful tool for users to be connected and share information with the user's followers. Twitter has become a tool for important people (such as actresses, public figures) to share informations with their followers. Twitter has some main tools, such as DirectMessage (DM), ReTweet (RT), and mentions that use (@username). 

Lets' compare it with an older social networking such as Facebook.com:

Facebook has more than 600million active users as January 2011. Started in Janauary 2004, TheFacebook.com has faced various kinds of changes. From its name, to how its settings-layouts-basic information needed, even with how valuable the website has become; not only for Mark Z. himself has the creator and the owner, but also for the users who are facebook.com active users.

Some similarities between twitter.com and facebook.com are:

• both websites work as social networking websites
• both websites are using web 2.0 application
• both websites nevertheless are trying to connect people together
• both websites are created as a tool for sharing (status, photos, videos, even current place they are at) among people

As twitter.com and facebook.com are trying to get its own market share in the public, they have differences, such as:

• Twitter.com gives current information, while facebook.com information given by the user(s) can be relevant in a longer period.
• Twitter.com only allows user to tweet within 140 characters/tweet, while on the other hand, facebook.com allows multiple posts that can be done through wall posts, statuses, notes, etc.
• Facebook.com has a software where it can remind users of her/his friends' and/or loved ones birthday and events that they are invited by other users, while not for twitter.com
• Facebook.com is not only a social networking in its own application, but it allows users to be connected with other users through games. Yet, twitter is simply sharing words, photos, videos, and current location with another users.

Each social networking websites are trying to give benefits for its users. It is one of the most strategic ways to make users stay in their websites. One social networking websites might use different tactics than other social networking websites. They are trying to compete with one another by making sure that the websites are useful to its users. Mark Zukerberg once said, that Facebook.com is not a usual social networking sites, but Facebook.com has become a utility that users can enjoy and use it effectively.

Without further due, we cannot escape the fact that Social Networking websites have been very helpful and it helps the users in various ways. Despite the negative effects social networking websites can affect us, it gives users easiness to keep in touch with their loved ones, friends or even just acquaintances. Another benefit a social networking website gives is it allows sharing information to mass audiences in an easier way and it is FREE (most of the time, except if you want to use certain applications that are considered as extra applications). There are still many other benefits of using social networking websites, such as facebook.com. It does not only gives you accessibility to share information or to be in touch with one another, but you can look for new friends (new opportunity) that are apperantly connected through your existing friends list. 

It is a very useful tools social networking websites have provided us to use, but it needs wisdom from us to make sure we use it correctly and effectively enough and not exploiting it. Have fun being and joining and using social networking websites!