Promoting indigenous language development through computer mediated communication in an online learning environment: A hybrid approach

Online learning can be ranged from courses supported in any way by learning technology to courses delivered entirely online and relies on how much students will engage in the learning process in a meaningful way. The Hybrid Learning System (HLS) is an integrated teaching and learning system that holds the virtue of "high-touch" principle in a "high-tech" world of teaching and learning. Based on Vygotsky's social development theory, Kearsleys' minimalist approach, Swellers's cognitive load theory and use of local content and interfaces, the HLS system meets the university's goal to affirms and promotes Malaysian national language as a language of learning and stimulates the development of technologies beneficial to Malaysian society. With this in mind, the HLS system has been fully implemented in the graduate courses in Computer Education in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The system has increase the IT awareness among students and lecturers alike and consequently creates a positive cybernetic culture at the Faculty of Education, UKM. This study shows that both introverts and extroverts with different learning style were satisfied with the use of HLS regardless whether or not they were ready to embark on the new environment at the beginning of the course.