Meeting the Needs of the App Generation: OUM Virtual Store

• Main Authors: Mansor Fadzil, Woo, Tai-Kwan, Latifah Abdol Latif
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education; LC5800 Distance education
• Online Access: http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/886/1/library-document-886.pdf; http://library.oum.edu.my/repository/886/
• Institution: Open University Malaysia

This paper highlights the need to look into setting up a Virtual Store to house the University’s teaching and learning materials. As the leading ODL provider in the country, Open University Malaysia (OUM) has been producing a wide range of learning materials ever since it was first established in 2001, ranging from print modules to technology-enhanced learning materials such as web-based modules, iLectures, iTutorials and iRadio broadcasts. However, while much thought has been put into the development of the learning materials, less has been paid to the issue of storage. This paper presents the case for setting up a Virtual Store utilizing the App environment. The App platform is trendy and popular with the younger and more tech-savvy generation. It is also easy to use, cheap, flexible, and engaging. As such, setting up the OUM Virtual Store via the App platform would not only be practical but also serve to enhance the University’s image. Collaboration with professional App developers is recommended to facilitate the transfer of technology. However, it is imperative that the University be an integral part of the development team for quality control and intellectual property rights issue purposes. The paper also recommends that the Virtual Store embeds a special functionality to host Open Educational Resources (OER) so that users can choose to purchase-and-view selected learning resources, or access free-share materials. (Abstract by authors)