Ahmad Farid Mohd Jamal

This article describes the use of Moodle as a suitable platform to support the postgraduate open and distance learning (ODL) courses offered by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). Many USIM postgraduate students who take obligatory courses (e.g., research methodology and data analysis) are taught at different venues to facilitate students' access to higher education and enhance quality of lifelong learning. Managing this complex teaching network has called for the adaptation of Moodle platform. This approach meets two relevant requirements, (a) to ensure consistency, compliance, and quality of teaching, (b) to reduce educational costs, which largely depend on the number of peripheral venues for teaching activities. This article analyses the functionalities of the Moodle platform and its use among USIM postgraduate students and academics. The data was collected based on content analysis via questionnaire applied to 18 USIM ODL postgraduate students and 4 lecturers. The results show that despite having great potential, Moodle is mainly used as a repository for materials. Moreover, lecturers recognize the importance of the use of other functionalities of this platform in order to promote the success of the teaching and learning process.

This study discusses the development process of integrated Naqli and Aqli postgraduate courses for open and distance learning (NAPCOD) at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). This is a qualitative study using literature review and document analysis methods by assessing and analyzing discussions in texts content and being translated in the form of narrative approach. The NAPCOD are designed by first identifying a set of four (4) fundamental levels of Naqli and Aqli knowledge integration. These fundamental levels are subsequently converted to NAPCOD development process. The outcomes of this integration emphasize on good characters within the framework of Naqli and Aqli integration.

This report emphasises the importance of open educational resources (OER) for improving
equality in education. OER are a worthwhile option to make education more accessible,
affordable, shareable and reusable. The adoption, expansion and enculturation of OER with
the aid of information and communication technology in Malaysian education will transform
educational practices through the effective use of educational resources available with open
licences.