Teaching, virtually: a critical reflection

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Powell ◽  
Nicholas McGuigan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present critical educator reflections on the pivot from the traditional physical accounting classroom to the virtual learning environment amidst COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Design/methodology/approach This paper outlines the reflexive experiences of two accounting educators on their scholarly journey into virtual learning and their inhabiting of the virtual accounting classroom. We adopt a critical stance in exploring what has been lost and insights gained. Findings We heed caution in the ongoing reliance on digital technologies and virtual learning that strip accounting education of its richness and complexity. Although the virtual learning environment brings with it benefits of accessibility and flexibility, it fails to replace the complexity of human connection, authenticity and informal spontaneity found in face-to-face learning. We further contend that COVID-19 presents an opportunity to rethink accounting education. We encourage educators to embrace this opportunity as a force for educational transformation; to reimagine an accounting education that embraces change, ambiguity and humanistic qualities such as empathy, compassion and humility. Originality/value Our critical educator reflections explore the impact of COVID-19 on the humanistic qualities at the heart of education and on the future of accounting education. This paper contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning during global pandemics and other crises.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra A. Robinson ◽  
Maja Stojanović ◽  
Zachary Z. Robinson ◽  
Renata Russo Lyons

Purpose This paper aims to explore the experiences of a high school senior, a doctoral student, a university professor and an online academic coach with a rapid, unplanned shift to online learning in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand the challenges and distinct skills they identify as essential for success in a 100% virtual learning environment. Design/methodology/approach Through scholarly personal narratives (SPNs), the researchers shared details and authentic knowledge regarding their experiences and perceptions of successful teaching and learning in a 100% online learning environment. Findings The main goal was to identify necessary skills for success in a 100% virtual learning environment resulting from an unplanned shift. The findings show a need for learner and teacher self-directedness in developing a variety of nontraditional, critical literacies. Originality/value In light of the imposed and unplanned educational shifts in teaching and learning, this study has strong practical implications for human resource development offered through an analysis of multiple perspectives. This research may lead to a better understanding of how, in a period of rapid, unexpected shifts, individuals need to use self-directedness to leverage personal and professional development opportunities to adapt and succeed in the new environment. Additionally, the authors use an innovative critical theoretical framework to outline the skills the participants report as useful for success in an online classroom during a period of rapid, unexpected shifting.


Author(s):  
Abubakar Albakri ◽  
Ahmed Abdulkhaleq

Online learning today demonstrates comparability with face-to-face learning. New digital technologies provide an improved and immersive learning experience for students and related educational ecosystem. A virtual learning environment (VLE), for example, is an online-based platform that provides digital solutions for teachers and students that enhance the learning experience. This chapter observes the main elements of virtual learning environments, together with an evaluation of the VLE blackboard system design, and discusses how blackboard facilitates teaching, learning, and communication in HEIs. Findings suggest that the weaknesses of blackboard could be compensated by the opportunities, whilst threats should be considered by the policymakers to enrich the teaching and learning experience. Recommendations and future potential research are also provided.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-323
Author(s):  
Claudemir Sousa

RESUMO: As possibilidades oferecidas pelas ferramentas tecnológicas para a produção de texto afetam sobremaneira a concepção que temos de escrita e de autoria. Neste artigo, objetivamos discutir uma concepção dialógica de escrita e de autoria, tendo como objeto de análise uma interação virtual escrita realizada por estudantes de uma universidade pública do estado de São Paulo. Essa discussão está ancorada nos pressupostos teóricos de Mikhail Bakhtin e seus interlocutores contemporâneos acerca das categorias teóricas autor e dialogismo, bem como em estudos sobre os impactos do uso de ferramentas tecnológicas na produção textual para a relação com a escrita e a autoria, sobretudo em Ambientes Virtuais de Aprendizagem. Concluímos que a escrita no Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem ocorre em um processo dialógico entre alunos, professor(es) e textos outros, havendo convergências ou divergências quando os alunos assumem o lugar de autor que organiza vozes.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: escrita; autoria; dialogismo; ambiente virtual de aprendizagem.ABSTRACT: The possibilities offered by the technological tools for the production of text greatly affect the conception we have of writing and authorship. In this article, we aim at discussing a dialogical conception of writing and authorship, by analyzing a virtual written interaction made by students of a public university in the state of São Paulo. This discussion is anchored in the theoretical assumptions of Mikhail Bakhtin and his contemporary interlocutors about the theoretical categories of author and dialogism, as well as on studies about the impact of the use of technological tools in textual production on the relationship with writing and the authorship, especially in virtual learning environments. We conclude that writing in the Virtual Learning Environment occurs in a dialogical process between students, teacher(s) and other texts, occurring convergences or divergences when students take the place of author who organizes voices.KEYWORDS: writing; authorship; dialogism; virtual learning environment.


EAD em FOCO ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Theodoro ◽  
Gerlinde Agate Platais Brasil Teixeira ◽  
Claudia Marcia Borges Barreto

Descrevemos o processo de criação colaborativa de um ambiente virtual de aprendizagem (AVA) de acordo com os princípios das metodologias ativas de ensino e a sua avaliação. O ambiente virtual foi usado no apoio ao ensino presencial. Participaram dessa experiência híbrida de aprendizagem estudantes da disciplina Imunobiologia, oferecida no primeiro ano de um curso tradicional de graduação em Medicina. Ao término da disciplina, foi aplicado um questionário para avaliar a facilidade de uso e a percepção dos estudantes sobre a qualidade do aprendizado adquirido. A maioria dos estudantes que avaliaram a intervenção pedagógica afirmou que o ambiente foi fácil de usar, atendeu às expectativas de apoio ao ensino presencial e as atividades didáticas foram importantes para o aprendizado de habilidades como reflexão, pesquisa e discussão. Portanto, o ambiente virtual desenvolvido foi bem-sucedido e bem-aceito pelos estudantes.Palavras-chave: Educação a distância, Moodle; Ensino de Imunologia, Mapa conceitual.? Evaluation of a Virtual Learning Environment of ImmunologyAbstractWe herein describe the process of collaborative creation and evaluation of a Virtual Learning Environment of Immunology according to the principles of active learning. The Web-based platform was used in support of face to face classroom teaching. First year Medicine undergraduate students attending Immunobiology? course participated in this blended learning experience. At the end of the course, a questionnaire was applied to evaluate the ease of use and the students' perception of the quality of the acquired learning. Most students assessed the educational intervention said that the environment was easy to use, supports the classroom teaching and the educational activities were important for learning skills such as reflection, research and discussion. Therefore, the developed virtual environment was successful and well accepted by the students. Keywords: Distance learning, Moodle, Immunology teaching, Concept map.


Author(s):  
Hafizoah Kassim ◽  
Wan Rosmini Hassan

This chapter reports the application and utilization of virtual learning environment (VLE) in schools, specifically focused on Malaysian schools. The VLE utilization is an initiative by the Ministry of Education (MOE) Malaysia in its vision to embrace the global changes and advancement of technology. With the advancement of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), this topic is especially important to address. This chapter discusses the provisions of technology-based facilities and tools in schools as part of the change initiatives by MOE Malaysia, and the accompanied teaching and learning practices and trainings affecting the teachers and students. These efforts are exemplified through specific programs which have been implemented namely e-Portfolio in the Genosis Program and Google Classroom, and by linking such endeavors to the Malaysia Education Blueprint. These initiatives are always challenging especially when it involves the utilization of the exponentially advancing technologies. This chapter also highlights the pursuing impacts and challenges of the initiatives on teachers, students, selected schools, and their receptions to change.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 52-65
Author(s):  
Rabindra Ku Jena

Recent advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provide an opportunity to build a self growing and sharing virtual environment for teaching and learning. Cloud computing is one of the latest technological advancement in ICT domain. Cloud computing technologies have changed the way applications are developed and accessed. A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a system for delivering learning materials to students via the web. Cloud computing is provides one of the most emerging cost effective solution for virtual learning and teaching environment. This paper discusses how cloud computing has been contributing to virtual learning environment and an overview of the current state of the structure of Cloud Computing based e-learning is discussed. The readers will also find a brief overview of cloud computing and the different efficient cloud based virtual learning models. Towards the end different offers from different cloud vendors are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Poliana Nunes Wanderlei ◽  
Erik Montagna

ABSTRACT Objective To formulate and to implement a virtual learning environment course in patient safety, and to propose ways to estimate the impact of the course in patient safety outcomes. Methods The course was part of an accreditation process and involved all employees of a public hospital in Brazil. The whole hospital staff was enrolled in the course. The accreditation team defined the syllabus. The education guidelines were divided into 12 modules related to quality, patient safety and required organizational practices. The assessment was performed at the end of each module through multiple-choice tests. The results were estimated according to occurrence of adverse events. Data were collected after the course, and employees’ attitude was surveyed. Results More than 80% of participants reached up to 70% success on tests after the course; the event-reporting rate increased from 714 (16,264 patients) to 1,401 (10,180 patients). Conclusion Virtual learning environment was a successful tool data. Data on course evaluation is consistent with increase in identification and reporting of adverse events. Although the report increment is not positive per si, it indicates changes in patient safety culture.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 889-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lorange ◽  
Howard Thomas

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on potential advances in pedagogy and on the process of learning in business schools. It examines innovations in teaching and learning methods particularly in the context of networked organizations. Design/methodology/approach – It approaches, and examine the impact of, three key developments in business schools, namely, recent advances in IT, changes in the architecture of classrooms and learning spaces and advances in the way teaching is undertaken. Findings – The paper suggests that a blend between self-learning via distance approaches and face-to-face learning will increasingly become the norm. Face-to-face sessions might be in a “flat room” environment with a creative mix of short lectures, experiential, group learning and conceptual plenary lectures, software innovations, and digital textbooks “open plan” learning spaces would complement the instructional process. Research limitations/implications – There are clear implications for parallel IT (developments in course modules) and architectural innovations for the design of more effective and creative learning spaces. Practical implications – Improving pedagogy together with the physical design and layout of learning spaces is critical. The aim is, through enhanced participative pedagogy and “friendly” architecture, to improve learning by encouraging dialogue and closer interaction between students and professors from different disciplines and fields. Social implications – The authors argue that this model of collaborative learning and an interactive teaching framework should enable the same amount of learning material to be covered in a business school in approximately half-the-time required in conventional pedagogical approaches. Originality/value – It offers a prescription for a participative, technology enhanced and interactive teaching pedagogy that could produce more effective and efficient, teaching outcomes. This has strong implications for the sustainability, and funding capability, of many existing business schools and business school models.


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