Enquiry

School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences

Associate Professor Ts Dr Tan Kian Lam (Andrew)

Dr. Arathai Din Eak

Senior Lecturer

Next Faculty Member

Education/Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Teaching and Learning of English) – 2025
  • Master’s in Applied Linguistics – 2014
  • Bachelor’s in Education (Hons) in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) – 2008

Experience

  • Programme Leader for the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) In English Studies 
  • Appointed National APEL. (A) Assessor for the field of Education in WOU since 2015
  • Editorial Board Members for World Journal of English Language (2025 till Present)
  • Language and Technical Editor, SEAMEO RECSAM ONLINE MODULES (2016, 2018, 2019)
  • Member of Quality and Standards Committee, Wawasan Open University (2025 until Present)

Areas of Interest

  • English Language Teaching
  • Multimodal Feedback
  • Technology-enhanced Language Learning
  • Feedback in Second Language Writing
  • Open and Distance Learning
  • Online Learning

Professional Highlights

  • Judge for the International Essay Competition (2023) organised by the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) of IAIN Kudus in Kudus, Indonesia.
  • Judge for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (2025) organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society.
  • Invited ad-hoc reviewer for 20+ journal manuscripts
  • Jury Panel for Penang International Invention, Innovation and Design (PIID) (2025)

Published Work

Published over 20 articles in publications that include articles in refereed and high-impact journals, book chapters, monographs, modules and teaching videos.

Publication Highlights

  • Din Eak, A., & Annamalai, N. (2025). Enhancing ESL learners’ narrative writing proficiency: The role of multimodal online feedback. Language Teaching Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688251374430
  • Eak, A. D., Ooi, L. H., & Tan, S. F. Relational Validity in Practice: A Decade of Research on Alternative Assessment in English Language Teaching Higher Education (2014–2024).
  • https://doi.org/10.37134/ajatel.vol15.2.7.2025
  • Arathai Din Eak., & Nagaletchimee Annamalai., (2025). A bibliometric analysis of video-based feedback in higher education (2003-2022): Trends, gaps and future directions. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 22(1), 59-78. https://doi.org/10.32890/mjli2025.22.4
  • Din Eak, A., & Annamalai, N. (2024). Enhancing online learning: a systematic literature review exploring the impact of screencast feedback on student learning outcomes. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 19(3), 247-263.
  • Por, F. P., Ong, C. S. B., Ng, S. K., & Din Eak, A. (2025). A bibliometric analysis on gamifying adult learning: past, present and future trends of learner-centered pedagogies. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 22(1), 43-60.
  • Tan, S. F., Din Eak, A., Ooi, L. H., & Abdullah, A. C. (2021). Relationship between learning strategies and academic performance: A comparison between APEL and regular entry undergraduates. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 16(2), 226-238.
  • Ooi, L. H., Goh, L. H., Eak, A. D., & Ong, C. T. (2021). Tutors’ perspectives on online facilitation of ESL courses in distance education. Research Anthology on Developing Effective Online Learning Courses (pp. 1557-1579). IGI Global.
  • Ooi, L. H., & Din Eak, A. (2019). Implementation and challenges of accreditation of prior experiential learning: admissions (APEL-A) The assessors’ perspective. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 14(1), 1-11.
  • Hsien, O. L., Eak, A. D., Vighnarajah, S., Huah, G. L., & Teik, O. C. (2016). Qualitative Findings on the Dynamics of Online Facilitation in Distance Education. International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design (IJOPCD), 6(4), 1-18.

Article in Proceedings

  1. Eak, A.D. & Nazirah M.Y. (2022). Students tell us how they perceive tutor-marked assignment feedback: Rethinking the role of tutor feedback in open distance education. Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Conference Proceedings.
  2. Ooi, L.H., Eak, A.D., & Tan, S.F. (2022). Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Implementations, Challenges and Best Practices. Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Conference Proceedings.
  3. Tan, S.F., Ooi, L.H., & Eak, A.D. (2022). Academic performance and self-efficacy of first-year online distance learners: A comparison between regular and APEL entrants. Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Conference Proceedings.
  4. Ng Khar Thoe, & Arathai Din Eak, Suma Parahakaran. (2019). Human Values-based Teaching: Higher Order Thinking Skills Using the Dhall & Tehseen Model. The 10th AISOFOLL.

Awards & Recognition

  • Silver Medal, Best Practice Award (2025) Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Conference – Enhancing ESL Writing in Open and Distance Learning through Video-Based Feedback: A Humanistic Learning Presence Approach
  • Bronze Medal Award for Innovation in Teaching Category (2025) at the Penang International Invention, Innovation and Design (PIID) – Interactive Video Feedback with Socratic Questioning to Enhance ESL Narrative Writing.
  • Won Bronze Medal Award for Innovation Category (2025) at 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL EDUCATION (ICGE XI) –HELLO THERE! CAN YOU HEAR ME? IMPROVING ESL NARRATIVE WRITING WITH SOCRATIC QUESTIONING AND VIDEO FEEDBACK.
  • Won 3rd Place (Social Science Category) (2024) at Malaysia 3 Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) – Screencast Video Feedback: A Revolution in Open and Distance Learning.
  • Silver Medal Award for Innovation Category (2024) at the International Invention, Innovation and Design Competition 2024 – Screencast Video Feedback on Written Assignment in Higher Education
  • Silver Medal Award for Innovation in Teaching Category (2023) at the Penang International Invention, Innovation and Design (PIID) – The Impact of Screen-Captured Video Feedback on Students’ Learning and Satisfaction in Open Distance Learning.
  • Bronze Medal Award for Innovation Category (2023) at the International Education Innovation Expo – Fostering English Proficiency: Innovative Assessments in Open and Distance Learning
  • Won 2nd Place (Social Science Category) in 2023 USM Virtual 3 Minute Thesis Competition (3MT) – Unlocking Your Writing Magic: Transforming Open Distance Learning with Awesome Screencast Feedback.
  • Best Presenter (2023) – International Joint Postgraduate Colloquium for Multidisciplinary Research (iJPCMR)
  • Gold Medal Award for Innovation Category (2022) at the International Virtual Education Invention, Innovation and Design Competition – Screencast Video Feedback on Written Assignment
  • Gold Medal, Best Paper Award (2021) Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Conference – Relationship between learning strategies and academic performance: a comparison between accreditation of prior experiential learning (APEL) and regular entry undergraduates
  • Gold Medal, Best Practice Award (2018) Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Conference – Implementation and Challenges of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL): The Assessors’ Perspective