How To Succeed In Online Learning

Online learning continues to evolve as a valuable way for people everywhere to increase their knowledge base and skills, both personally and professionally. Sometimes referred to as “distance learning” or “e-learning,” online learning is quickly becoming a favorite option for students interested in furthering their education. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Sloan Consortium and Babson College confirms that 2.6 million students are currently enrolled in online learning courses, a 24.8% increase over last year. At the same time, the survey also reveals that more and more “traditional” colleges and universities plan on offering some sort of online component to their curriculum over the coming months and year.

Online learning has proven itself to be a path to success – but how does one assure a successful online learning experience?

START WITH THE BASICS

The primary difference between online and traditional classroom courses is the method of delivery. Online learning covers a wide range of potential formats – from live, real-time webcasts and interactive workshops, to traditional 12-week instructor-led courses to self-contained software in the form of CDs or downloadable PDF, Quicktime or Flash files. Deciding the best format for you will help you get the most out of your education.

Choose Your Format

The first thing to consider is: are you looking for an environment where you interact with an instructor and your fellow students? Or, are you interested in getting the information and studying privately - on your own? Or something in between? Do you want a fully-structured course or program, including exams and projects, or do you want to just get the information and run with it?

The answer depends on what you are studying and why. If you are a salesperson, and you have a pitch to make on Monday to a major cellular company, it may make sense on Friday to download a three hour course on the basics of cellular technology plus an overview course on the global telecommunications industry, and plow through it all on a single afternoon. By Monday, you’ll sound like an expert. On the other hand, if you are a designer who is revamping your portfolio, you may prefer a 12-week project-oriented course with a lot of teacher and peer interaction and feedback. A couple who is planning to buy their first home may want to “attend” a two-Saturday, live online seminar for first time home buyers, where they have the option of asking an expert specific questions about their situation. An executive looking to earn an M.B.A. may want a combination of online and “on-ground” (in a real classroom) courses.

Keep in mind that every online delivery format is utilized differently on your end, and should be chosen to suit your particular needs.

Collect Information about the Course and its Instructor Up Front

You will probably find several online courses and/or programs that appear to cover the same subject area. How do you choose between them? Start by getting as much information as you can about the courses, programs and instructors before you sign up.

Read each individual course description and syllabus carefully to see if a particular course fits your needs. Pay attention to what is required on your end: a broadband connection? specific software applications? Instant messaging?

Read the instructor’s bio – the long version, if there is one. Google the instructor to see what else he or she has done, who they are associated with, awards or recognitions they may have received, and what else they may have published elsewhere. Is this someone who knows what they are teaching? Are they truly an expert? Are they someone you can learn from that you’d like to interact with as a student?

Look into the specifics of how the course or the program is delivered and what’s expected from students. Are there a mid-terms and final exams? Are you expected to upload exercises into a discussion board for your fellow students to see? Will you need to complete a final project?

Preview if Possible

Is there a demo you can look at? Samples of course materials? If you are considering a more elaborate, more expensive course or program, is there a “lite” version you can take first? Sometimes a 12-week course may have a 3-hour introductory version that you can take to see if you really want to commit to a 12-week version.

If you end up unsatisfied with a particular course, can you transfer, get a credit towards another course, or get your money back? Look for “satisfaction guaranteed” or “no risk” offers.

EVALUATE YOUR RESOURCES AND STUDY HABITS

Before making any final decisions about which course format to choose, think about your situation: How much time can you allocate to studying? Can you find more time? Will you have time to do any assigned homework and/or readings?

Think about your learning modes

How do you best learn? By reading? Listening? By watching? By doing?

If you enjoy reading and can learn well by doing so, a simple course format with downloadable PDFs may be ideal for you. If you are a good listener and learn best by simply listening, a basic audio course may be very effective for you. If learn best by watching, a course featuring lots of still or animated graphics and even Flash or Quicktime movies may be the best way to go. If you learn best by doing, a course featuring exercises, assignments, feedback and projects may be ideal.

Of course, in the real world, most instructors present their content in a variety of ways. But if you have a choice between two courses covering the same subject material in different ways, choose the way that you will respond to the best.

Analyze your study habits

Do you study best alone in the middle of the night when it’s quiet and peaceful? Or do you study best in a crowded, active environment like a café, library or hotel lobby? Do you prefer to study alone, or with fellow students? Do you love conceiving and developing projects, or do you simply want the raw information?

Really think about your ideal study environment and choose your courses accordingly. For example, it may be impractical to take part in a live, interactive workshop from the noisy environment of a popular coffee house, particularly if the workshop included “live call in” features via your laptop microphone. If you learn best while studying with fellow students, a course featuring group projects may be the way to go. If you study best alone, in the middle of the night, an asynchronous-type (time shifted, without specific class meeting time) course would be ideal. If writing things down helps you learn, courses with many exercises that require students to post their view in discussion boards would suit you well.

Set aside the time

Managing and scheduling your time effectively is the greatest ingredient for personal success with online learning. Regardless of how the course is structured, your participation is mandatory—meaning you have to schedule your availability to ensure regular “attendance” and participation.

The best way to approach any online course is to “make an appointment” with yourself to make sure you’ve allocated adequate time for your course. Then defend those appointment times like any other. Don’t let your learning time get superceded by other issues – or even responsibilities – that may arise. Pretend like it’s a doctor’s appointment or a job interview. If you have an important meeting, everything else gets scheduled around it. Your education is important. Enter your “learning appointments” in your calendar, then schedule around it. Be sure to also schedule time to work on exercises and projects. Don’t answer the phone while you are “in class” any more than you would in an actual classroom.

Pay attention to your own rhythms

When are you the sharpest during the day? When are you typically sleepy? When do you have the most energy?

If you are most sharp during the morning hours, schedule time before you leave for work to do your assigned readings. If you work best in the middle of the night, schedule your project time at 10:00pm to 1:00am. If you get sleepy in the middle of the afternoon on weekends, use that time to take a nap or to take a walk – don’t schedule your study time during that period.

Remember that you have to be alert to study and learn well, so schedule your study time at optimal points in the day, not when you know you’ll be tired.

A special note to parents: Most parents with small children really can’t do much of anything until late at night when their kids are in bed. This “quiet time” may be ideal – unless you are exhausted. If you are, consider going to sleep when your kids do and scheduling study time very early in the morning, before everyone else wakes up. Or, schedule specific times on the weekends, shut the door and let your family know that you are not to be disturbed during those hours.

Time management checklist

Drive your own desired results with these effective time-management skills that keep your online learning on track. Use this checklist:

- Set time aside throughout the week to participate in discussions and ask questions
- Schedule time to match your personality—that is, when you study best
- Monitor how motivated you are
- Apply self-discipline as necessary
- Allow for “off-line” writing, researching, and studying time
- Print longer documents for easier reading
- Read all comments to avoid duplicating responses
- Develop relationships with other students
- Use word-processing programs for longer responses to ensure accuracy
- Report technical difficulties immediately to administrator and/or instructor
- Motivate yourself to do assignments or prepare for online discussions

COURSE DELIVERY FORMATS

Live vs. Synchronous vs. Asynchronous vs. Self-Study

There are basically three types of instructor-led course formats: Live, Synchronous and Asynchronous. Self-Study courses make up the fourth common online format. Let’s look at these four formats in more detail.

Live: These are real-time seminars, panel-discussions, workshops or other presentations that are delivered online by technologies known as webcasting or streaming. The events are “streamed” into your computer over the Internet in real time. These types of presentations fall into two other sub-categories: one-way or interactive (bi-directional). One-way means you sit back and watch the presentation on your computer like you would watch television. There may be exercises or projects involved, but you are not contributing to the online discussion in real time. The other option, interactive, means that you can participate live, in real time, buy live chat, calling in, instant messaging or emailing questions to the presenters. Usually, in these cases, there is a moderator who takes the questions from the online audience and feeds them to the presenters.

Note that participating in live streaming requires specific software on your computer, a high-speed broadband connection and the ability to live chat, IM or email in real time.

Synchronous: A synchronous course is one that takes place at specific times, with everyone “meeting” online. Unlike a Live course, a synchronous course can be as simple as an instructor designating a specific “class time,” such at Tuesday night from 7:00pm to 10:00 pm, where he or she will be “present.” During that class time, students can access lessons, reading, post exercises and assignments and get feedback from the instructor via message boards, email and sometimes telephone or conference calls (students dialing into a toll-free conference line). Unlike real time streaming, a basic synchronous course is all about “meeting time” and less about technological capabilities. A synchronous course could be conducted with downloadable PDFs and message boards only, if such a case could even be accessed by the student via a dialup connection.

Asynchronous: An Asynchronous course is one where the student can access the course information at any time of the day, 24/7, and post their exercises and assignments at anytime. Feedback from the instructor is intermittent, as the instructor is also reviewing student postings anytime of the day, 24/7. In this scenario, a student may post a question on Monday evening and receive an answer from the instructor on Tuesday afternoon or evening. All of the interaction is thus, “time shifted.”

Self-Study: A Self-Study course is one where there is no instructor involvement at all. The instructor is more of an “author” who creates the material, but the student accesses it and interacts with it on their own. Classic examples of Self-Study material are language and motivational tapes or CDs. Sometimes there may be workbooks and other documentation included that the student can utilize as they learn.

There is another presentation format to be aware of: Start time. Some of the above formats require pre-set “start times” (the Live and Synchronous courses in particular), or they can start whenever any particular student signs up (the Asynchronous and Self-Study in particular).

An inventive Instructor may configure his or her course to incorporate elements of all of these formats into the delivery process.

Read the Instrument Panel

Pay attention to what technologies the class incorporates to facilitate student interactivity: chat rooms, discussion boards, video-conferencing, and other multimedia that build classroom community. (Caution: the more interactivity and multimedia a course offers, the greater the minimum technical requirements become.)

Chat rooms and bulletin boards allow students to post live or static messages, respectively, for expanded discussion offline. Features that offer a greater means for communication between students (and instructor) are key to successful learning. The semi-anonymity allows you to speak your mind without intimidation, making conversations lively and enriching. Private one-on-one email exchange encourages useful feedback. Chat rooms also offer students with visual barriers or who are easily distracted in traditional classrooms a place to thrive because they accommodate greater concentration.

(Remember—bulletin boards and discussion boards aid instructors in assessing a student’s overall participation and/or enrollment, so be sure to document your contributions frequently.)

Update Your Tools

Whether on a PC or a Mac, you’ll need an Internet connection—preferably using a high-speed Internet Service Provider (ISP)—and at least 64 megabytes of RAM (memory), preferably more – RAM is cheap and makes a huge difference in the performance of your system. Because most home systems are older (and slower) than office systems, most many online courses are designed with this in mind. Contact the site’s administrator before enrolling if you have specific questions pertaining to your system.

Summary: Review the Checklist

Review the following statements and check off the ones that apply to you. The more affirmative responses you provide, the better your chance of learning effectively in the online environment. (The list is not exhaustive—but rather a general overview of key characteristics successful online learners posses).

- Enjoy working independently
- Accept direct instructor feedback
- Access to computer and Internet
- Can meet deadlines
- Appreciate exchanging of ideas
- Understand common computer terms, such as “URL” and “hyperlink” - Possess basic typing skills
- Comfortable asking questions and having one-on-one dialogues with instructor
- Curious to explore new things
- Enjoy learning in a diverse “classroom” setting
- General computer skills
- Responsible study habits (setting own schedule)
- Ten–fifteen hours per week (on average) available for study
- Understanding online coursework is not inherently easier than traditional coursework
- Effective writing skills
- Desire to read material online
- Online Learning is a Two-Way Street

Ensuring online learning success means showing up—not literally, of course—but rather being present for self-growth. Education is an investment in oneself. Expect back only what you put in, and don’t treat it as a spectator sport.

Remember—successful online learning is measured by your participation.

Accomplishing your goals means taking responsibility for your work, as well as interacting with peers for feedback and support. In short, it’s an exchange of ideas and information.

Don’t Give Up Before the Finish Line

Each course is a unique experience. What you put into a course is what you’ll get out of it. Online learning approaches are vast… choose carefully, then dive into it with vigor.

Can I Really get a University Degree Online?

The idea of earning a university degree from the comfort of your home may seem too good to be true. With online learning, it doesn't have to be. There are a few things to consider, though, before you enroll.

If you heard about the program from a spam e-mail message, be wary. While it's possible that it's a legitimate educational institution, it's most likely some form of scam, such as a diploma mill that awards "students" fake degrees and credentials.

While there are some schools that specialize in online learning, most online degree programs are extensions of an existing program at a brick and mortar university. You are more likely to find advanced degrees, like MBAs, offered. You can find nearly any subject online, though, so you'll never know if there's a program that's right for you until you perform extensive research.

Before beginning any online degree program, it is vital that you ask about both the school's and the degree's accreditations. You want to make sure that you will have a degree that will be recognized by employers or other universities when you finish your course of study. The school itself can be accredited by national and regional organizations, with national accreditation being more prestigious. What organization should endorse the degree program, or if it's even necessary, will depend upon your major. Check with professional organizations in your field for guidelines.

You should also take some time to reflect on yourself, your learning style and your schedule before beginning an online degree program. One of the biggest advantages of online learning is the flexibility; you can schedule class time when it's convenient for you. At the same time, online classes require as much work, if not more, than traditional programs, so you must set aside enough time for your studies. Also consider how important lectures and in-person discussions are to your learning. Some students thrive in an online environment of e-mail and web forum communication, while others miss the human connection. Finally, think about how well you think you'll perform without the external motivation of attending class every week. Will you keep on top of your work, or will you let deadlines slide?

Online programs are making university degrees available to thousands who otherwise wouldn't have been able to attend college. You can be a part of that number if you proceed carefully.

About Mesothelioma Lawyers

Mesothelioma is a disease that, until recently, was extremely rare. To date, little is know about the condition. However, as the rate of the disease has increased, a new breed of lawyers – those dealing specifically with mesothelioma lawsuits – have stepped in to fight for the rights of victims afflicted with this disease. These lawyers and law firms often deal exclusively with mesothelioma victims and their families who wish to claim compensation from the companies that were responsible for their exposure to asbestos. These mesothelioma lawsuits often result in millions of dollars for the victims when handled by an experienced lawyer or law firm.

Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have every right to file a lawsuit. Many of the companies responsible for exposing workers to asbestos were well aware of its dangers and effects, but still saw fit to let their workers continue with little or no protection against the dust and fibers that emanated from this hazardous material. Now, decades later, the effects of this exposure is taking its toll on American workers just as they reach their golden years. These workers are entitled to compensation and justice for their pain, suffering and loss of life. A mesothelioma lawsuit can provide them with such justice.

Today, there are many mesothelioma lawyers to choose from. The number of lawyers and law firms handling these lawsuits is on the rise. Many of these lawyers have dealt with numerous mesothelioma lawsuits and have a good deal of experience and knowledge about the disease. Those looking for a mesothelioma lawyer should chooser someone that has proven experience in the field. Most reputable lawyers will be happy to provide facts and figures on previous cases that they have handled. However, these lawyers often do not provide private information that might be subject to confidentiality. They can, however, provide you with details on how quickly cases were resolved, how much compensation was successfully obtained and how many mesothelioma lawsuits they have dealt with.

It is also worth finding out about the mesothelioma lawsuits that were not successful, and why they were not successful. It may be something as simple as a missed piece of evidence to failure to comply with sensitive timetables associated with such cases. These elements can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful lawsuit. By finding out why some lawsuits resulted in no compensation, you may be able to avoid making the same type of mistake.

It is important that you find a good, experienced mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed with the disease. Most states have a set time limit in which you can file your lawsuit, and it is very important that you not miss that deadline known as a statute of limitations. Otherwise you may find that you are ineligible to make a claim. You also need to give your lawyer as much time as possible to do the necessary research and put together a solid and case against the negligent parties. In short, the earlier you get to a mesothelioma lawyer, the better your chances of success.

Many people are concerned because they do not know exactly where and when they were exposed to asbestos. Some people may have worked in several different places and been exposed to asbestos on numerous occasions. However, your mesothelioma lawyer can help in identifying products that you were exposed to. If necessary, your mesothelioma lawyer will hire the services of a private investigator to find out where the exposure took place. With some research and digging, the lawyer is generally able to pinpoint the company or companies responsible for the exposure.

Again, this can take time and is another reason why it is so important to find a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after the diagnosis of the cancer has been confirmed. Understandably, patients who have just been told that they have mesothelioma will have a great deal on their minds and filing a lawsuit may not be one of their priorities. However, the timely process of selecting a lawyer and filing your lawsuit can make all the difference in securing the future of your family.

Playing with credit cards for fun, rewards, and profit

I love credit card companies. They are so stupid. They think when they lend me money that I will one day pay them interest. But I have developed a very firm position on which direction interest payments go in my life: to me, not from me.

Here are some games you can play with your credit card companies to keep the interest payments moving in the right direction. These games are especially good for people who get their income in periodic lump sums or are living off savings (like many students). You probably need excellent credit to play these games, otherwise you won't get all the good offers.

Supplies needed: Offers for one or more rewards cards, and offers for one or more 0% balance transfer cards. A good reliable personal accounting system (I use Quicken) and reminders system (I use Outlook). [Update 1/6/05: Google is now serving up many ads for such offers to the right of this post.]

1. Sign up for a rewards card that pays you the rewards you want -- cash back, airline miles, merchandise credit, etc. Mine is an Avon card that gives me 1% back in Avon certificates. In the past I've also had an airline miles card that earned me a free ticket to Costa Rica.

2. Sign up for a 0% balance transfer card. As soon as you get it, make the maximum balance transfer to your rewards card, even if your rewards card doesn't have a balance -- basically, you're using one card to pre-pay the other card. (A good rule of thumb for your financial life: Whenever someone offers to lend you money at 0% interest, YOU SAY YES.)

[Update 1/6/05: Oh yeah, you can sometimes find rewards cards that also offer 0% interest on purchases for a decent period of time, allowing you to skip the whole balance transfer step of the game, at least for the first round.]

3. Buy a certificate of deposit for the amount on your balance transfer card for a length of time just short of the 0% interest period. You have that prepaid rewards card now to use for most of your living expenses, so you only need to keep enough liquid for rent, minimum monthly payments on the balance transfer card, and any other payments that won't take credit cards.

4. Sit back and rub your hands together with glee as you earn interest on the credit card company's money for six months, a year, whatever the time period for the 0% interest is.

5. When your CD comes due just before the 0% interest rate expires, use it to pay off the balance transfer card. Set up a reliable reminder so you don't forget to do this. See, the credit card companies give you that 0% interest rate because they think you're either going to forget or not be able to afford to pay off the balance once the interest rate expires, and then they'll get you. But you have tricked them!

6. Watch out for annual fees -- they cut into your profit and can even make it not worth it. Often with annual fee cards it is waived for the first year. Set up a reminder and every year call and bitch about the annual fee and threaten to pay off your balance and close your card if they don't waive it (and have a CD maturing then so you can back that threat up with action if necessary). That almost always works. You probably won't be keeping your balance transfer cards long enough for annual fees to be necessary, but you might need to do this for your rewards card.

7. Make sure you make all your monthly payments on time, or the credit card company can abruptly change the rules of the game on you. One word: Autopay!

8. Horde any credit card offers you receive in the mail so you have a nice selection when you're ready to do it again. Don't worry about the expiration dates on the offers, those are just a marketing prompt to get you to respond right away, when you call they will almost always still let you sign up under the terms of the "expired" offer.

An example: Let's say you spend $500/month on living expenses that can be run through a credit card, and you get a balance transfer offer for 0% interest for just over one year. You also have a rewards card that pays you 1% cash back. Use the balance transfer card to pay $6000 to your rewards card. Buy a CD for $6000 that matures in one year. My bank (Washington Mutual) is currently offering 2.6% APY on one year CDs. So you get $60 in cash back rewards plus $156 in interest -- $216 for perhaps an hour of your time setting the whole thing up. That's enough for a couple of textbooks!

Now the above game assumes a positive net worth and lump sums of money to be buying CDs with. If you don't have that, if you already have debt and/or no savings, you can still at least avoid paying interest. Horde 0% balance transfer offers, use them, and keep very good track of when the 0% interest rate period is up so you can transfer again. Back when I had credit card debt I went for years without paying more than 1% or 2% interest, and often paid 0% interest.

If you consider how much you spend on living expenses that could be run through a credit card, you can make a few hundred dollars a year and earn quite a few rewards doing this. It's also tons of fun to know you're beating the credit card companies at their own game. (OK, then again, my idea of fun also involves checking all my account balances and updating my Quicken every day, so your fun mileage may vary.)

Student Loan Consolidation

There are several ways to obtain the study loan or scholarships in our country.Dont worry to try out one of this institution for your bright future.Consolidate your student loans to reduce your student loan payments and save you thousand of dollars.

STUDY LOANS (Malaysian students only)
Financial difficulties should not prevent a student with great potential from taking up a great career opportunity. Some of the options you can choose from are as stated below.


1. PTPTN Loans

The PTPTN loan (National Educational Loan) is generally a study loan for Malaysian diploma and degree holders. As for using this option to pay for you diploma in SAE, you are only eligible to get RM 5000 for per year study.

* This loans is strictly handled by SAE Institute, Malaysia.



2. Bank Rakyat Loan (Al-Falah)

This loan allows you to finance your studies for educational expenditure such as tuition fess, personal expenses, reference books and other materials you need for your studies in SAE Malaysia.



3. MIED Loan (Maju Institute of Education Development)

Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) is the education arm of the MIC. Take note that the MIED loans are not restricted to Indian students but open to all Malaysians. For further information call Ms.Naga at 03-40422885.



4. KOJADI (Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia)

KOPERASI JAYADIRI MALAYSIA BERHAD (KOJADI) is established on March 12, 1981. The primary objective is to extend an effective educational loan facility to needy students to pursue higher education and secondly to nurture human resource into well-trained manpower for the Malaysian Community and the Nation.

For further information please visit
http://www.kojadi.com.my/index-education.html



5. RHB Bank Study Loan

As a student you can apply jointly with your parents, brother, sister, spouse or children. Full-time and part-time programs approved by the Ministry of Education, Jabatan Pentadbiran Awam are acceptable when applying for the RHB Study Loan, both for local or overseas education.

For further information please visit
http://www.rhbbank.com.my/personal/services/loan/study_loan.shtm



6. EPF Education Withdrawal

This withdrawal allows you to withdraw your savings from Account II to finance your education / your children's education (including step-children and legally adopted children) at the Institution Of Higher Learning (IHL) either locally or abroad. As of 1st April 2006 parents are allowed to withdraw for their childrens Diploma Level education.




SCHOLARSHIP (Malaysian students only)
We here at SAE Institute, Malaysia has set up a few scholarship to be offered to our deserving students.



1. ACADEMIC Scholarship

The student who fulfills the requirements for the scholarship will be granted complete fee exemption for their final semester. For further details please e-mail us at info@saemalaysia.com



2. MERIT Scholarship

The merit scholarship would entitle the qualifying student to receive a rebate on their fees. This scholarship is given to outstanding students in the program who maintain an academic GPA of 3.5(90%) and an attendance record above 95% for each semester.

Consolidate during your grace period and lower your interest rates even more.

Looking For College Loan ?

A college loan has given people all over the United States a chance to further their education, even if they are not making a lot of money. Education loans can be a big help in paying for college. You'll find these loans offer a low interest rate and a generous repayment period. Of course, student loans must be repaid, usually with interest, although some education loans have provisions for cancellation if the borrower performs a program-related service. If you are looking for a loan, be aware that there are many different types of loans. Try to find the student loan that fits you the best. For example, there is a loan called the Federal Stafford Loan. The Federal Stafford Loan is the most widely used loan in the student education loan program. Federal guidelines limit the maximum interest rate to no more than 8.25% and outline repayment terms of up to 10 years. Remember that if you ever need help or are falling behind on payments, consider a consolidate student loan.


Tips on getting a deferment for your College Loan.


If for some reason you are unable to meet your monthly payments, consider a college loan deferment. A deferment is a suspension of payments for special reasons. Usually, those who borrowed their first Stafford Loans after July 1, 1993, are eligible to defer payments if are enrolled in at least half-time at an eligible school, unemployed, in a graduate fellowship program, in a rehabilitation training program for people with disabilities, or suffering economic hardship. A college education is expensive, but with the right student loan you will be attending class without financial worry in no time!

Pay As You Drive Car Insurance

Question: I have forgotten to pay my premium, what should I do?
Answer: You may forfeit the right to make a claim under your policy if you have not paid the premium. The exact details vary with the type of policy involved. Please contact us if you are in any doubt and arrange to make payment as soon as possible. If the premium remains unpaid, we will be obliged by law to cancel the policy.


Question: How is my Motor Insurance premium calculated?
Answer: Motor Insurance premiums in Malaysia are subject to regulation, and all companies are required to use the same basis of pricing. This price is governed by several factors such as the age of the driver, years of driving experience, engine capacity, age of the car and No Claims Discount.

Question: How do I decide what value to insure my car for?
Answer: For a new vehicle, the value chosen should be the purchase price. For older vehicles, you should insure for the 'market value'. Car magazines or your local dealer are a good source of information on this. If you need any help, please Contact Us. An important point to remember is that it is better to insure for too much than for too little - that way you can be sure you will receive full payment in the event of a claim.

Question: What is 'underinsurance'?
Answer: Underinsurance means you insure your property (house, car or whatever) for less than it is really worth. If you do this, the insurance company is usually entitled to reduce any claims payment to you. For example, if you insure your house for RM 200,000 when it is has a true value of RM 400,000, the insurer may be entitled to reduce any claim payment by half (because you have only paid half the premium that you should have done). Therefore, it is important that you set and regularly review values you declare on items you are insuring.

Question: What is a "No Claim Discount" (NCD)?
Answer: If you are insured under a comprehensive motor policy for a continuous 12 month period and there is no claim made on your policy, you will be entitled to a No Claim Discount (NCD) on renewal of your policy. The percentage of NCD increases with the number of claims free years. You will lose your NCD entitlement if you make a claim. If you wish to transfer your insurance but continue to receive a NCD that you had with a previous insurer, you can ask for a letter proving your NCD status from your previous insurer. If you change your car, your NCD can be transferred. If you buy an additional car, however, you cannot apply your NCD to both cars - you will need to build up a new NCD on one of the cars. You cannot transfer your NCD to any other person.
If you have an accident and you are certain that the other party was entirely at fault, you can protect your NCD position by not claiming against your own policy but claiming against the other party. However, it is always best to let your insurer know the situation just in case you need to later claim against your policy (for example, if it turns out that the other party is not properly insured).


Question: What is a 'cover note'? Can I make a claim before my Motor Insurance policy has been issued?
Answer: A 'cover note' is a valid insurance document and provided to customers to provide evidence of insurance whilst their policy is being prepared. If you have an accident before your policy arrives you can make a claim immediately - provided the accident has taken place during the period specified on your 'cover note'.

Question: Why should I insure my vehicle with 'comprehensive' cover even after my car loan is settled
Answer: Even though the lender may no longer require it, it is a good idea to buy 'comprehensive' cover after you have paid off your loan. With this cover, you can be sure that an accident will not cause financial hardship. Without it, you may face a substantial repair bill following an accident.

Question: What is an 'excess'?
Answer: The 'excess' is the amount of money that you - the policyholder - are required to pay for any claim. For example, if your Motor Insurance excess is RM 200, you will have to pay the first RM 200 of any claim and will not be entitled to claim for an accident that results in damage below this amount. Excesses help to keep insurers administration costs lower by reducing the number of small claims handled. In this way they allow insurers to offer lower premiums to their clients.

Question: How is my 'excess' level decided?
Answer: For Motor Insurance, the level of your excess is set based on various criteria (just like the level of the premium - see above). For other classes of insurance, we will be happy to discuss this with you. Often, we are able to offer a discounted premium if a higher level of excess is chosen.

Question: What should I do if I have a motor accident?
Answer: You should take down the vehicle registration number(s) of vehicle(s) involved and the name(s) of other person(s) involved in the accident. Do not admit liability or make any offer to a third party. If you have a camera with you, it is a good idea to take photographs of the accident scene. A police report must be immediately lodged preferably within the next 24 hours at the nearest police station of the accident site. You should notify your insurer immediately (Please see How to Make a Claim). You can also register your claim online or print a claims form from this website (see Online Claims). In the event of an accident to your vehicle, you can call our nearest Approved Workshop for immediate assistance. The accident breakdown services of our Approved Workshops are available
round the clock. Please consult the list of Approved Workshops that is supplied with your policy or call our 24 Hour Hotline on 1-300-880-980 for more information.

Question: How long will my claim take to process?
Answer: Once all the necessary documentation has been obtained and there are no outstanding matters, we aim to provide payment within a maximum of 10 working days.

Question: Is the insurance my bank has arranged for my home adequate?
Answer: Most lenders will arrange a fire insurance policy for their mortgage customers. This is to protect their investment in your home. These policies do not cover your possessions or any improvements you might make to your home (such as curtains, kitchen fittings etc.). You can arrange a separate policy for this. Another fact to remember is that your lender will only be concerned to insure the value of the loan. Over time the cost of replacing your home will increase with inflation and you need to make sure that your policy protection should increase too. If it does not, you could be faced with a shortfall in the event of a claim.

Where to send your unwanted PCs

Think green, think for recycle. Dont throw away your broken PC or old PC you can send it for recycle centre as bellow.

Collection centres in Penang:
- Sunshine Farlim hypermarket, Bandar Baru Ayer Itam
- MPPP JPP Store, Jalan Kampung Jawa Baru
- Dell Bayan Lepas, Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone, Phase 4
- Dell Bukit Tengah, Bukit Tengah Industrial Park, Bukit Mertajam

Collection centres in Petaling Jaya:
- Section 5 Residents Association; Jalan Cantik, Dalam Kawasan SM LaSalle
- Rukun Tetangga Section 21; 62, Jalan 21/33 SEA Park
- Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Kelana, Kelana Jaya; Jalan SS5B/3, Kelana Jaya
- National Council of Women’s Organisations; 46, Jalan 14/29, Section 14
- Damansara Jaya Residents Association; Jalan SS22/47 (next to SK Damansara Jaya)
- SS3 Residents Association; 33, Jalan SS3/14

For collection times, exact location of the centres or more information, call 1800 88 0640.

Choosing your portable

Planning to buy a new notebook PC but not sure where to start?
This review of some notebook models in four main categories to help you decide.

This year, we have seen a huge number of notebook PCs being launched – no doubt thanks to the Intel Core Duo processor released earlier this year as the heart of the new Centrino Duo platform.

And the best part is that these new processors are far more powerful than their predecessors, endowing notebook PCs with raw processing power that’s comparable to that of desktop PCs.
Rather than being a compromise, notebooks are fast becoming the platform of choice for most potential buyers. And unless you’re waiting for Windows Vista to be released sometime this decade, now’s a great time to splurge on a shiny new piece of black plastic.
But where do you begin? You may find two completely different-looking notebook PCs that bear the same type of processor and even similar prices. Here’s a quick guide to buying yourself a notebook PC.

1. Low-cost ultraportable
Normally costing between RM3,000 to RM5,000, these notebooks have screen sizes between 12in and 15in and come with the most basic specifications (non-Core Duo machines should cost less). Some models may offer optional enhancements such as better graphics cards, built-in webcams or extended battery packs.

2. Business-oriented
For around RM5,000 to RM9,000, these notebooks look a lot like low-cost compact notebooks but tend to be lighter, smaller and built to higher durability standards. Most will also include security features like thumbprint scanners and extensive docking and expansion options. These notebooks also tend to have the best battery life.

3. Large / multimedia
Targeted at multimedia enthusiasts, these notebooks cost between RM5,000 to over RM10,000. They normally have widescreen displays measuring from 15in to 17in and come with graphics cards and LCDs that are more suitable for playing games, watching movies or doing digital art. Some of these notebook PCs are also built to the same standards as business notebooks and can withstand a lot of abuse. However, they tend to be about 3kg or heavier.

4. Tablet PC
Tablet PCs are quite similar to business-oriented notebooks and tend to meet the same requirements for durability and portability. However, they have tilt-n-swivel LCD screens that can be written onto with a stylus (kind of like a giant PDA) – better for mobile users who may have to use their notebooks while standing. However, they tend to cost more too – to the tune of about RM7,000 to RM9,000.

Cheap Powerful Laptop Computers

The available cheap powerful laptop computers in the used laptop market are really a function of your definition of powerful. The secret to finding that cheap power laptop is to understand how the used laptop market works. You need to understand that the used laptop stores on the internet today all buy the available laptops in the wholesale channel. In other words we all pull from the same source.

To get the cheapest most powerful laptop for your money in the used market. You need to purchase the laptop that has just come off the manufacture warranty which is usually about 3 years old. The price will be just under $500. Today as of the writing of this page that is the Pentium III 1 Ghz laptop. They are just about 3 years old and are no longer under warranty from the manufacturer. Any laptop that comes under the $400 mark is about 4 years old. And it does not matter when you read this page. You will find that the prices stay about the same levels just that the laptop computers get faster. So if you are looking for cheap refurbished notebooks and laptops under $350 you will be getting what you are paying for a 5 to 6 year old laptop.