E- Learning

E-learning is hot. And for good reason. If done right, it can produce great results by decreasing costs and improving performance. Also, unlike a one time classroom session, the elearning course is available for others. This includes the static elearning course as well as any ongoing conversations in networked communities.

Recently, I had a conversation with someone new to elearning and it struck me that she didn’t fully understand the value of elearning. I think this is common as more people are joining the world of elearning. Understanding elearning’s value helps you make the best decisions about when and why to use it.

E-learning Supports the Organization’s Goals

• Improved training costs. Producing learning content is time consuming whether it’s online or not. With elearning, each time the course is accessed your return on investment improves because you are dividing the fixed production costs by number of uses. You also have savings through decreased travel, reduced material, and hopefully improved (and more efficient) performance.

• Decreased material costs. Let’s say you have to train how to arrange equipment in a sterile environment like an operating room. If you had to use the real environment, it would be costly. Even setting up a fake environment has material costs and labor. By creating the environment online and letting the learner practice, you never have to worry about the costs associated with set up, use, and clean up.

• Increased productivity. Because elearning is not bound by geography or time, you can control training’s impact on production by training people during down times. In addition, with the current economy, you’re asking people to do more with less. So elearning is a great way to give them the tools and skills needed to enhance their performance.

• Standardization. You may have a great facilitator, but that’s no guarantee that the courses are presented the same across sessions. Elearning allows you to create a standardized process and consistency in the delivery of content. It also compresses delivery time. I’ve combined elearning courses with facilitated sessions. Elearning delivered consistent content. Live sessions were interactive case studies that applied the information.

E-learning Supports the Learner’s Development

• Real-time access. Live learning events require that those who participate align their schedules to the training calendar. Elearning eliminates this because the course can be accessed anytime, anywhere. This can also happen without Internet access. I saw a Red Cross demo where the learners accessed the content on a PC out in the field and uploaded their results when they were back online.

• Freedom to fail. Let’s face it, real learning requires some failure. But no one likes to fail in a classroom full of other people. Elearning lets you fail without fear. This encourages exploration and testing of ideas. With the right feedback you create a great learning environment. Worst case, you can always start over. Something you can’t always do in class.

• Improved retention. The combination of multimedia and instructional design can produce a very rich learning experience that is repeatable. Throw in some good practice activities with feedback and you have a learning environment that’s going to help your learners retain the course content which will produce results.

• Personalized learning. Look out the window at your parking lot. My guess is that you’ll see a dozen or more different cars. They all do the same thing, yet we have personal opinions about what we want to drive. The same for learning. Learners want control. Elearning allows you to offer control to the learners in a way that classroom learning doesn’t.

E-learning Nurtures a Learning Organization & Community

• Ongoing access to resources. If you take a class in the real world and need a refresher, you better hope that you took good notes. Otherwise, you’re out of luck. That’s not the case with elearning. Ideally, you continue to have access to the online content and resources to brush up on what you learned.

• Knowledge management. Many people see elearning as only the authored courses. But elearning includes all sort of online technologies. If you incorporate some of the tools that allow collaboration and conversation, you can capture organizational knowledge that is available for future learners.

• Encourage sharing. The foundation of a learning community is built on sharing what you know with others. This is where incorporating a forum or wiki really adds value to your elearning. Depending on how the course is structured, you can encourage sharing of resources and insight gained from the course.

• Employer of choice. People want opportunities to grow. A cafeteria with high fat foods is one way. Another is a catalog with all sorts of elearning courses. This allows them to explore other opportunities in the organization. During downtime, it would be great to spend fifteen minutes learning to better manage meetings or improve working with peers. Offering these opportunities to learn makes you a place people want to stay.

Petty Stocks - Young Investment Challenge

The Finance Club of UiTM Malacca City Campus is organizing The Young Investor Challenge.
I am taking part for this competition as a group.
There are five of us including me.
My team mates are Solehah, Muzammil, Kamal and Elis.

The competition will be started at the end of this month, and suppose to be finished within 2 weeks.
The time is too short, so i think we need to study the market sentiments instead of focusing on fundamental analysis.
The latter is use by Warren Buffet, it is a very good strategy to invest and it is my principle too.
However for the sake of this competition, we will put it aside and aiming for a short term profit.

As expected, of course we are going to invest in Petty Stocks, avoid the Blue Chips Companies.
Very high risk & give a possibility of a very high return.

Enjoy this article !

Why You Should Trade Penny Stocks

by Pennystockclassroom.com on July 8, 2010

If you’re researching the methods and strategy for successfully trading penny stocks, then you already know how great the rewards can be. Compared to long-term investments, the over-the-counter space is a fast paced, intense market; and those risks, rewards and excitement are part of the appeal of trading penny stocks.

Beginning investors may find the penny-stock market easier and less intimidating to enter into than the bigger exchanges. Penny stocks experience less day-to-day fluctuations than stocks on the big boards, and generally trade at a much lower price. This means more money can be made in a shorter period by educated penny-stock investors, and those plays are easier to monitor.

Because penny stocks trade at lower prices, they will rise and fall by higher percentages. If a penny stock trades at $.30 and gains few cents, then it’s a higher percentage jump than if a stock trading at $20 were to jump a few cents. A 5% increase for a higher volume of shares will net more than a $0.1 increase at the lower volume, obviously, yielding quicker profits.

For beginning investors, penny stocks are a good choice. Because of their low prices, not as much upfront capital is necessary to get started. If you’re unsure of how to trade and how to track market trends, buying a few shares of penny stocks is a safer bet than spending money on bigger companies. This market offers a way to get started and acquainted with trading and to practice the methods of tracking and analyzing market trends without going bankrupt. Penny stocks are traded in similar ways and provide a good starting point for inexperienced traders to learn the ropes and practice before stepping up to bigger stocks.

Although there is a lot of money and excitement trading penny stocks, there are a lot of risks as well. The reason penny stocks trade at low prices is because they haven’t yet proven themselves in the market, and aren’t as reliable as the bigger stocks. A stock being traded at a low price doesn’t mean that it has nowhere to go but up, it can also mean that it may be headed toward bankruptcy. It’s important to check into the history and statements of any company’s stock before going ahead with any investment.

There is a lot of money to be made in the over-the-counter market, but in the same breath, there is a lot of money to be lost. Because penny stocks are low and unproven, some people will create false hype to generate sales for a stock that isn’t as strong as it appears to be. Offshore companies often prey on new traders using shares they acquired for a cheap price. These manipulators then try and sell their shares as quickly as possible by pressuring unaware traders with boiler-room tactics.

Despite the risks, many people enjoy the excitement of trading penny stocks. Traders aware of the possible risks and leery of scams can make a lot of money by avoiding the risky and sketchy stocks and putting their money into securities they’ve researched themselves. Penny stock traders know the stakes are high, but they also recognize the reason – because the reward is equally high. It’s a high stakes game, but winners walk out with a big prize.

Muslimah & Hijab

WOMEN'S INACCURACY REGARDING AURAT



ERROR 1: Aurat is ONLY about covering the hair.

ERROR 2: Wears hijab with short sleeve T-Shirt.

ERROR 3: Wears hijab with slitted skirts.

ERROR 4: Wears hijab with tight and transparent blouse that reveals body parts that lures a man.

ERROR 5: Wears very loose hijab that causes the hair to be visible.

ERROR 6: Wears hijab only in the office. Not at home or around the mall.

ERROR 7: Wears hijab but the end of the hijab is pulled up revealing the chest.

ERROR 8: Wear a hijab that is made of transparent material that causes the hair, neck and chest to be visible.

Do you think this is the correct way to wear hijab?

Some women believe that covering the aurat is only about covering the hair. This is totally inaccurate as Allah mentioned in Al-Qur'an:

وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاء بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُوْلِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاء

And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, and not to display their charms [in public] beyond what may [decently] be apparent thereof; hence, let them draw their head-coverings over their bosoms. And let them not display [more of] their charms to any but their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' Sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or those whom they rightfully possess, or such male attendants as are beyond all sexual desire, or children that are as yet unaware of women's nakedness (An-Nur: 31)



Prohibition to wear transparent clothing

Saidatina Aisyah r.a narrated that her sister Asma' binti Abu Bakar entered the house of the Prophet s.a.w wearing attire made of transparent material that showed her skin. The Prophet s.a.w turned away from her and said:

"Hai Asma'! Verily when a woman has achieved puberty, she should not reveal her body except for this and this - showing the face and the palms." (Narrated by Abu Daud)

Although there is a weak narrator in this hadith, it is strengthen by many other hadith that allows revealing of the face and the palms if it does not bring any harm (fitnah). Dr Yusof Al-Qaradawi explained that looking repeatedly at a man or woman (besides their aurat) without any desire is halal. (Al-Halal Wal Haram Fil Islam)



ERROR 9: Wears hijab but rides the motorbike revealing their calf.

It was narrated in hadith that:-

"Allah blesses women that wears trousers (inside their garment)" (Narrated by Al-‘Uqayli, Dar Qutni from Abu Hurairah, Musannaf Abd Razak, no 5043; Kanzul Ummal, no 41245).

According to Imam Mujahid, this hadith was narrated when a woman fell from her ride in front of the Prophet s.a.w and his companions. Her garment hoisted and the Prophet s.a.w turned away his face. The companions then told the Prophet s.a.w that the woman wore trouser inside her garment. As a response, the Prophet s.a.w complimented the woman and metioned the above hadith. (Al-Bayan wa At-Ta'rif, Ibn Hamzah al-Husyani, 3/ 252, no 1831)

Using the same hadith and according to the Mafhum Mukhalafah method in the study of Usul Fiqh, Allah then condemns women that do not wear trousers (inside their garment) when riding their transport.



ERROR 10: Cover the aurat perfectly but enchants her voice when interacting with man. This includes singing and nasheed. It is not suitable for a woman to do da'wah via nasheed because the moment a woman gets on stage with her glamorous attire to perform nasheed, thousand of men's eyes get focused on her. We do not know where exactly the men are looking. Her enchanting voice also melts the heart of the listner and may arouse desires of some men although the woman only sings words praising God.

Al-Qur'an prohibits woman from enchanting their voice when interacting with man. Allah SWT said: "...Then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire; but speak in an honourable manner." (Al-Ahzab: 32)

Money

Robert Kiyosaki, one of my virtual mentor in finance.
Started his money machine empire from zero.
He learned how to setup a good business from his best friend's dad since he was a small kid.

Bad debts and good debts.
Investment strategies.
Work to learn, do not work for money.
Money does not make you rich.
Are among things that i learned from him.



Not all debts are bad debts.
PTPTN as an example; according to the new system the students will be charged with 1%.
Some students do not want to apply for PTPTN because their parents could support them with enough money, plus they do not want having a debt at something that they could avoid.
For 5 years investment, in average a good Mutual Fund will simply gives us more than 10% profit annually.
10% - 1 % , we still be able to scored 9% profit annually.
So having PTPTN, is it a good debt or a bad debt?


What the rich invest in, that the poor and middle class do not?
In Malaysia we could see lots of people investing in ASB.
Eventhough majority of them are muslim and it is clear those are non-shariaa compliance fund, people still investing in it because they eager to get money, more money.

Does it worth? Does the richest guys invest on the same portfolio?
Average people scared to enter Bursa Malaysia. Why?

ASB gives stability; today you buy each share for RM1 and 10 years later you can sell it for RM1 too. Impressive?
Inflation is high, especially in developing countries.
In 90s, i could buy a Rice Chicken at the school canteen for 30cents or 50cents. I am not lying because it was my mom who sell it. But now?

ASB gives dividend.
The Blue Chips Companies such as TNB in Bursa Malaysia also gives divident, plus free shares, plus potential to increase price of each share.
If today you buy TNB shares for RM 10 per unit, within 10 years it could be RM 20.
You also get dividend, entitled to free shares if they do so.

Do you think a company like TNB got a rival in Malaysia? Threats to its stability should always there, but i think TNB is a very stable company, unless too much corruption takes place.
Its alright mingling with some risk and who said investing in ASB is always secure?

The main management skills needed for success are:

• The management of cash flow

• The management of systems (including yourself and time with family).

• The management of people.

The most important specialized skills are sales and understanding

Always work to learn, do not work for money.

Money does not make you rich

Naughty

Small kid sometimes could be very naughty.
Make people around angry.



When i was 5 years old, i throw an 'A' size battery to the head of my classmate with intention to test whether he feel pain or not.
Experiment succeed, he cried a lot.

His mother work as an English Teacher in the Primary School.
The whole 6 years, i could felt that she really hated me.
Once, she hit me by her car.
She asked my best friend not to be friend with me, worried that he might be influenced.

After finished diploma in the college, i made a visit to her house, inviting for primary school re-union.
She welcomed me with warm treatment.
Hopefully she able to forget things in the past.
I am sorry, i just being naughty =)

Murobbi

Now is year 2011, i am 25 years old.
Things happened very fast, lots already forgotten.

Sheffield UK : 2008
I sat in-front, wearing white Jubah

Time is like our life.
It cannot be undo.
The past is past, cannot be edited.

Sweet memories easily forgotten.
The saddest part easily remained.

Dr. Mas Afzal Masarudin

He was my best friend, mentor, teacher, murobbi, comforter, guider on this life.
Started to know him at the end of 2006.

On 17 December 2010, Allah SWT took him from us.
I never cry when somebody died in the last 10 years, i am not sure if i ever cry when somebody close to me passed away.

That morning when i woke up for Fajr prayer, i did realized that there was a message on my phone.
Opened it, read it, and i lost on my own world.

Pretended to buy a breakfast, i drove my mom's car at a very slow speed.
My tears dropped like a rain.
After a few minutes, i stopped at the side of the road and continue crying.

Detected having a blood cancer at the end of 2008.
He was a medics final year student in our university.
Struggled with dozens sets of chemo-therapies and at the same time need to complete assignments, answering the exams, visits patients.
Continuously receiving and accepting offer to become a speaker for various programs even-though his health condition deteriorated.
If you see the picture above, blood cancer did not stop him from joining a mass demonstrations against the Zionist, a lots of demonstration he attended.


Graduated with flying colors.
Not long after that, doctors in the UK given up and said he only have a few months to live.

On February 2010, he went back to Malaysia for good.
I made a visits when i got a free time.
Take a bus or drive a car to KL from Johor.

That night i missed a bus to Shah Alam.
I planned to visit him after attending a marriage ceremony.
Allah knows best, that morning he left us.


Till now, my tears easily drops when i think about him.
Our relationship is truly for the sake of Allah.
He taught me about the wisdom in da'wah, he taught me about the real Islam.

May Allah bless us with forgiveness, bless us with the Heaven of Firdaus