scholarly journals From Distance Learning to Integrated Digital Learning: A Fuzzy Cognitive Analysis Focused on Engagement, Motivation, and Participation During COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):  
Roberto Capone ◽  
Mario Lepore

AbstractThis work focuses on Distance Learning during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve students’ motivation, participation, and engagement, trying to contain the drop-out phenomenon. Distance Learning at the time of COVID-19 is an educational methodology and it can be considered the only occasion to keep an educational connection between students and teachers. Experimentation in a Mathematics STEM class was carried out evaluating the impact of Distance Learning on students’ levels of motivation, participation, and engagement, computed through a Fuzzy Cognitive Map. Specifically, it was performed on some affective and interaction parameters derived from using an adaptive e-learning platform and from the answers of a semi-structured questionnaire. The results, which have been analysed through Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Instrumental Genesis theories, show on one hand that Distance Learning is valid as an additional and support methodology but, on the other hand, they highlight the ineffectiveness of completely remote teaching. Therefore, a teaching method that integrates moments of distance teaching with activities carried out in the presence, in the classroom, or in other university environments, is hoped to be used as soon as the emergency is over: a mix of styles, a fluid flow of knowledge between the physical classroom and the virtual classroom. We will call this Integrated Digital Learning.

Author(s):  
Minara Mammadova

This research paper applies a mixed-method approach for the investigation of challenges and eligible solutions for the online teaching and learning techniques, as well as, their impact on the professional identification of the educational system, students, and professors. The discussion would be about the outcomes of both quantitative and qualitative approaches for detailed examination of the revealing problems in digital learning, by using the explanatory type of research supplied with both statistics and descriptive analysis of various categories, approaches, models and types. Statistics of further mentioned surveys and examinations underline the existing issues in the online teaching & learning platform, which is the difficulty in the management of their time (both students and instructors); less interest in studies; less gained help from instructors; technology disruptions or unawareness of their usage. In addition to this, the research emphasizes the approaches/models and categories for resolving the indicated challenges by illustrating three essential techniques for online teaching and learning: course design, the interaction of both students and instructors, and the level of preparedness of the professors for the distance teaching. Moreover, the analysis of the results and discussions of the research findings underline the possible affirmative results, the flexibility of studying designs and their outcomes, also professors' and students' capability of interfacing for mutually positive outcomes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teaching and learning activities in the classroom have been permanently halted. Students in their last years of high school and university are in an unusual position that makes it extremely difficult to observe the upcoming future. The duration of the pandemic, as well as its impacts on everyday living, costs, and other financial struggles, might have a serious influence on college and adolescents' ability to continue their studies. The insecurity generated by disruptions in the academic sphere is concerning. Undergraduate and graduate students' circumstances have created adverse situations such as the need to drop out of school.


Author(s):  
Olugbade Oladokun ◽  
Lenrie Aina

<p>Open and distance learning (ODL) has created room for the emergence of virtual education. Not only are students found everywhere and anywhere undertaking their studies and earning their degrees, but geographical boundaries between nations no longer appear to have much relevance. As the new education paradigm irretrievably alters the way teaching and learning is conducted, the application of modern educational ICTs has a major role to play.</p><p>With students of transnational or cross-border education dispersed into various nooks and crannies of Botswana, many others enlist for the “home-baked” distance learning programmes from their diverse locations. Like the face-to-face conventional students, distance learners also have information needs which have to be met. But blocking the distance learners’ realization of their information needs is the digital divide, which further marginalizes the underclass of “info-poor.”</p><p>The survey method was used, and a questionnaire administered to 519 students of four tertiary level distance teaching institutions that met the criteria set for the study yielded a 70.1% response rate. The results showed that while the Government of Botswana has made considerable effort to ensure country-wide access to ICT, which now constitutes an effective instrument for meeting information needs, a number of problems still exist. The factors impeding easy access are unearthed. The findings of an empirical study portraying some learners as information-rich and others, information-poor, and the consequence of distance learners studying on both sides of the digital divide, are discussed. Suggestions on bridging the digital divide are offered.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iryna V. Ivaniuk ◽  
Oksana V. Ovcharuk

The article deals with the results of the online survey on the problems and needs of Ukrainian educators toward the use of the digital tools for distance teaching and learning conducted by the Comparative Studies Department for Information and Education Innovations of the Institute of Information technologies and Learning Tools of the National Academy of Educational Science (NAES) of Ukraine in 2021. Ukrainian teachers and schools are in a situation where distance learning has become a necessity. These circumstances are closely related to the introduction of quarantine measures in all countries of the world in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why the digital competencies of teachers and school administrators are on the agenda in the education system. What matters today is how teachers and schools develop digital learning environments, what tools they use, what digital skills they can apply for these purposes. 1463 respondents – teachers, school administrators, methodologists, social pedagogues from all regions of Ukraine – took part in the survey. The questions covered the following topics: problems and needs that arise during the implementation of distance and blended learning during quarantine; determining the attitude and readiness of teachers to the use of online tools and online resources during distance and blended learning in quarantine; comparison of the results of the 2021 survey on the use of online tools and online resources with the results of the first survey in the spring of 2020; determining the level of digital competence of teachers through self-assessment based on the "The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens". The answers of the respondents allowed providing proposals to different stakeholders and pointed to further steps in supporting teachers and educational institutions in the organization of distance and blended learning, which is important in the pandemic period. The purpose of the article was to present the survey results and provide proposals to the interested parties (governmental bodies, educational institutions, local authorities) on the concrete steps in the organization of distance learning in secondary schools.


Author(s):  
Omar Mohamed Ali Albakri ◽  
Abubakar Albakri

Higher education has been shifting to learning management systems (LMS) for decades. Some universities, like the Open University, have managed to gain international recognition by providing undergraduate degrees to students in different countries. However, in moments of emergency and international disruption higher education institutions need to adapt at unprecedented speed. This chapter focuses on the use of technology in moments of extreme internationalised interference. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a ground for change, students enrolled in presential courses in Spain, Malta, and the United Kingdom were interviewed in order to understand how they are coping with having contact with their academic life exclusively online. The students' impressions, LMS software, and results (assignments and exams) were also discussed. Finally, the chapter analyses the solutions provided by lecturers and students.


Author(s):  
Wong Yau Hsiung

<p><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Chemistry is often perceived as being a dry and boring science subject, probably because of traditional teaching method, static textbook, lack of interactivity and difficulty in visualization of the abstract chemical concepts. E-learning resources (e-resources) and the utilization of technology have become one of the major trends in education, replacing the conventional textbook and traditional talk and chalk teaching method. A study was undertaken to assess students’ perceptions of the impact of the e-resources and technology on various aspects of their learning. Data were collected through a questionnaire involving 28 undergraduates, who were taking first-year Chemistry course in Taylor’s University, Malaysia. A Moodle e-Learning platform was made available to the students, where the students can assess e-resources anytime and anywhere. Innovative technologies such as mobile clicker, simulation and augmented reality (AR) were integrated into classroom instruction. Most of the students found the e-resources provided useful and well prepared them for the assessments in the course. Their understanding and ability to answer questions had improved. They were motivated to study the subject because it was more interactive and engaging. Overall findings showed that these e-resources and innovative technologies gave positive impact on students learning in chemistry.</span></span></p>


Author(s):  
Badi Aldossry

The platforms are the pinnacle of technology and digital development in the 21st century. However, until the global COVID-19 pandemic, most schools did not employ these platforms as new teaching and learning methods. The Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia established the Madrasati Platform as the new gateway to distance-teaching and learning for all Saudi' education levels from 1st to 12th grade in the new academic year 2020-2021. This platform is one of the most essential programmes in Saudi Arabia, and is related to many supplemental educational tools. The data involved in this study was collected from three teachers. This paper presents the results of an evaluation of the Madrasati Platform in relation to Saudi teachers' perceptions of its use as the primary distance learning platform, and its advantages and disadvantages. The main findings are firstly that teachers should possess technical knowledge about how to use this platform, which highlighted the need for intense training courses for both teachers and students in order to create and foster a successful educational environment. The Madrasati Platform is an integrated platform designed to meet the needs of all of the parties involved. However, students typically neglect to attend the asynchronous virtual classroom on the platform (iEN channels and other uploaded videos) and focus only on the synchronously virtual (live) classroom on Teams. Therefore, this paper presents some recommendations to the Saudi Arabian education stakeholders for improved platform development, and also proposes paths for future research. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0777/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (33) ◽  
pp. e16111
Author(s):  
Tatyana Ilinichna Golubeva ◽  
Elena Vladimirovna Skudnyakova ◽  
Natalia Nikolaevna Kasatkina ◽  
Svetlana Vladimirovna Dandanova ◽  
Oxana Innokentyevna Dagbaeva

The article is aimed at a detailed examination of the prerequisites for the introduction of visual content into the educational process in the foreign language course during distance learning and at defining a list of prerequisites for its successful processing by students. The article proves that the search for new trends and approaches to education leads to new goals and new types of knowledge. All innovations in higher education contribute to the formation of a new image of future professionals. The relevance of the problems of higher education technologization is associated with the countless number of innovations, among which the authors single out the visualization of educational information in distance learning. The article shows the importance of visualization in distance education. The given technology includes both visual presentations of information and the development of visual thinking during the educational process. Educational material and an effective visual teaching method allow making the educational process interesting and non-standard and increasing students’ motivation to learn English. Thus, the visualization of educational information is a tool for distance learning technology. The article identifies the preferable visualization tools based on the survey of students based on the results of the use of visualization in distance English language learning. According to the summary of the results of distance English language learning, it is proposed to divide the visualization process into several stages.


Author(s):  
Fujiono Fujiono ◽  
Paulina Paulina ◽  
Nurul Hidayati ◽  
Farah Natchiar

This study was a case study of qualitative research design to know the impact of distance learning through zoom application and WhatsApp group on students’ attitude and English aptitude: A Case Study on Students of ICT due Covid-19 Outbreak. The result of the study showed that most of the students’ attitude or response to the online learning using zoom application are less interesting, interactive, effective, efficient and energetic. It was also found that many troubles with their signal, and they often got limited internet package. Zoom meeting needed much internet package to connect between lecturer and learners in one meeting. In this case, the trouble networks and limited internet also often gave impact on students’ learning process, style, and strategy to enhance their English aptitude; listening and speaking competency. Meanwhile, the lecturer took the usage of WhatsApp group by sending voice notes and materials about reading and writing. No troubled networks to download and upload the reading and writing tasks during distance teaching and learning class. It needed a little internet to get the online materials. Based on the situation, almost all participants felt interesting to join reading and writing online class. Aside from that, they could enhance their own English aptitude; reading and writing proficiency. To against the highly infectious covid-19 pandemic, the distance learning has created their physic and mental health from fear, anxiety, panic, and the outbreaks of influenza. Learning from home is one of the solution to reduce the physical contact to large number of people. Distance learning has been referred to save educational young generation from the pandemic of covid-19 outbreak. 


10.28945/4791 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 121-140
Author(s):  
Moshe Leiba ◽  
Ruti Gafni

Aim/Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic demanded an immediate and massive adaptation of higher education to distance learning. Teachers had to transform from face-to-face to distance teaching, with insufficient pedagogical and technological knowledge and resources. This study aims to capture higher education faculty experiences in the very early stages of the crisis-prompted transition into synchronous distance education in order to obtain a broader view on the faculty’s perspectives (benefits, challenges and insights) on distance teaching through synchronous online environments. Background: Although online teaching and learning have been part of higher education teaching for more than two decades, many instructors found themselves teaching remotely for the first time and facing new and unpredicted challenges. Methodology: This study explored and analyzed an e-mail thread discourse between teachers in a higher education institute, two months after “going online” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A singular case study was conducted, and a retrospective and snapshot case study approach was used. Data analysis was an iterative exploratory process of going back and forth the empirical material, resulting in the construction of categories, then themes, and finally a conceptual framework was developed. Contribution: The findings contribute the knowledge domain of implementation of immediate and massive online teaching and learning from the faculty perspective. Findings: Two main focal points, students and teachers, were encountered. Three main recurring themes were identified associated with both students and teachers: Convenience, Ethical Issues, and Insights for the future. Two themes were identified associated with faculty: Pedagogy and Tools, and Resources. In addition, two themes were identified for students: Attendance and Responses. Each of the themes was decomposed into several aspects. Recommendations for Practitioners: Higher education institutions and stakeholders should build a campus wide e-learning agenda including appropriate infrastructure and professional development for the future. Recommendations for Researchers: The study presented a conceptual model based on qualitative case study methodology. The impact and influence of each of the components of the model should be further researched and measured using quantitative methodologies. Impact on Society: Understanding the benefits and challenges of distance learning from the faculty perspectives in order to implement better distance learning strategies. Future Research: The impact and influence of each of the components of the model should be further researched and measured using quantitative methodologies.


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