Learners in higher education institutions require a set of learning skills in order to
cope with their studies. This is even more crucial for ODL learners, majority of whom
are working adults with multiple commitments. At Open University Malaysia (OUM),
Malaysia’s first ODL institution, a Learning Skills Workshop is conducted for new
learners to assist them in adapting to their new learning environment and to equip them
with the relevant skills to be an effective ODL learner. This paper examines the effect of
the Learning Skills Workshop on the learning readiness of OUM learners. The study
employs a survey approach using a set of 40 close-ended questionnaires distributed to 263
learners in four learning centers across the country. Pearson Correlation, Independent
Sample t-Test and Stepwise Regression Analysis were carried out using the SPSS version
11.5 for Windows. The results showed that the workshop contents, namely, ODL
Concept, Time Management, Assignment Preparation, ICT and using LMS have a
positive impact on the level of learning readiness. The results also indicated that learners’
level of satisfaction towards the conduct of the workshop, its perceived benefits derived
from it and learners’ self-confidence arising out of it have a positive influence on learning
readiness. Out of the eight variables, only four explained 58 percent of the variation in the
level of learning readiness. The variables are ODL concept, LMS, self-confidence and the
level of satisfaction. The study thus indicates that the Learning Skills Workshop has been
effective in enhancing learning readiness among new learners. This result concurs with
that of another study on the efficacy of learning skills workshop on new students at OUM
(Latifah & Jamaludin, 2007) (Authors' abstract