Jordanian university instructors' perspectives on emergency remote teaching during COVID-19: humanities vs sciences

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad S. Haider ◽  
Saleh Al-Salman
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Interactive Learning Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
University Instructors ◽  
Effective Delivery

PurposeThe study aims to probe into university instructors' reactions to adopting the remote online learning model brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study investigates the instructors' perspectives, in the humanities and science classes, on the effectiveness of the emergency remote teaching (ERT) compared to face-to-face teaching.Design/methodology/approachThe data for the study were compiled from the responses of 127 instructors representing two private universities in middle and northern Jordan. The sample included 66 faculty members in the humanities and 61 in the sciences. The instructors' responses were elicited through a Likert-type questionnaire consisting of 20 items.FindingsThe present study's findings have shown that online instruction is becoming more common despite the presence of some major challenges facing instructors. The results showed that the e-learning system seems to better suit the humanities courses compared to the sciences courses. The findings also showed that faculty members in the humanities are more satisfied with the effectiveness of the assessment tools utilized in the online courses than their colleagues in the sciences. In addition, humanities e-courses seem to provide a more interactive learning environment than e-courses in the sciences.Practical implicationsMore training for instructors on how to design online course syllabi to ensure effective delivery is needed. Instructors need to develop ways to encourage students to interact in virtual e-classes to the same level as the on-ground classes. Instructors also need to adopt the “blended learning” system as a transitional stage before switching completely to online learning.Originality/valueDifferent studies have investigated how COVID-19 has impacted education. The current study brings to light the perspectives of the Jordanian teaching staff on transitioning to ERT during the COVID-19 crisis taking into account the differences between humanities and sciences classes.

10. Designing an online curriculum supporting risk management and patient safety

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
T. Gondocz ◽  
G. Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Online Curriculum ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Managing Risk

The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) is a not for profit mutual defence organization with a mandate to provide medico-legal assistance to physician members and to educate health professionals on managing risk and enhancing patient safety. To expand the outreach to its 72,000 member physicians, the CMPA built an online learning curriculum of risk management and patient safety materials in 2006. These activities are mapped to the real needs of members ensuring the activities are relevant. Eight major categories were developed containing both online courses and articles. Each course and article is mapped to the RCPSC's CanMEDS roles and the CFPC's Four Principles. This poster shares the CMPA’s experience in designing an online patient safety curriculum within the context of medico-legal risk management and provides an inventory of materials linked to the CanMEDS roles. Our formula for creation of an online curriculum included basing the educational content on real needs of member physicians; using case studies to teach concepts; and, monitoring and evaluating process and outcomes. The objectives are to explain the benefits of curricular approach for course planning across the continuum in medical education; outline the utility of the CanMEDS roles in organizing the risk management and patient safety medical education curriculum; describe the progress of CMPA's online learning system; and, outline the potential for moving the curriculum of online learning materials and resources into medical schools.

scholarly journals Online Courses in the Higher Education System of Iran: A Stakeholder-Based Investigation of Pre-Service Teachers’ Acceptance, Learning Achievement, and Satisfaction

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 117-142
Author(s):  
Reza Dashtestani
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Human Interaction ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Learning Achievement ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
University Instructors

This study focused on the acceptance level of higher education stakeholders of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) of online courses in Iran and pre-service teachers’ learning achievement in online courses. Three cohorts of participants who were teaching or learning in online courses included pre-service teachers of TEFL (n=104), TEFL university instructors (n=23), and heads of TEFL departments (n=10). A questionnaire was designed. The Kruskal Wallis test was used to detect differences among the perspectives of the participants. Semi-structured interviews were also utilized. Results indicated that there were significant differences among the perspectives of the three groups of participants about online courses. The pre-service teachers appeared to be relatively positive about online learning, while the university instructors and heads of departments showed a lower level of satisfaction. The participants pointed out several challenges, including the lack of rigor of online courses, the incredibility of the certificates, the lack of technological infrastructures, technical problems, the impractical content of the lessons, the lack of human interaction, the low competence levels of online learning students, and employers’ lack of interest in employing graduates of online courses. The participants also mentioned that pedagogical and technological training was required for both university instructors and pre-service teachers of TEFL. The comparison of pre-service teachers’ mid-term and final scores in the online courses showed a significant difference and improvement of students’ learning achievement in online courses with medium to large effect sizes. In the interviews, the participants also confirmed that online courses could improve student learning.

Impact of personal and organizational factors on knowledge sharing attitude of university teachers in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javaria Javaid ◽  
Saira Soroya ◽  
Khalid Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the attitude of faculty members towards knowledge-sharing in the University of Education, Lahore. The impact of personal and organizational factors that may contribute to effective knowledge-sharing among the university’s teaching staff is also analyzed. The factors affecting the willingness of the faculty members to share knowledge are broadly classified as “organizational” and “personal” factors. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on permanent teaching staff working at different campuses of the University of Education all over the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The survey instrument for this study was adapted from four studies. The questionnaires were distributed among 246 faculty members personally. Findings The findings of the study showed that the faculty members were familiar with the importance of knowledge-sharing and were also interested in sharing their knowledge and expertise with others. The results showed that organizational factors (trust, reward system and organizational culture) played a vital role in enhancing the knowledge-sharing attitude of faculty members. The impact of these factors on knowledge-sharing attitude was significant. Originality/value This is the very first study which explored the personal and organizational factors of knowledge-sharing in a specific academic institution from Pakistan. The findings of the research provided useful insights to the management of the University of Education particularly and other universities in general to design strategies for enhancing knowledge-sharing culture in the higher education institution. These findings may also be helpful for other developing countries.

Most courses are not born digital

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangeline Marlos Varonis
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Peer Review Process ◽  
Online Course ◽  
Shared Services ◽  
Online Course Design ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss benefits of and barriers to online learning and describe utilization of the Quality Matters (QM) peer review process as a method to assure the quality of online courses. It outlines the QM higher education rubric, explains how the collaborative QM peer review process facilitates online course design and certification, reports on the development of a statewide consortium in Ohio, and explores future directions in online courses. Design/methodology/approach – This paper offers a brief historical review of the incorporation of technology into teaching and learning. It describes attitudes toward online learning and the creation of the non-profit QM program as a vehicle for improving online course design. It summarizes the eight standards of the QM rubric, describes the QM peer review process, and discusses the implementation of the Ohio QM Consortium (OQMC) as a shared services model. Findings – Given existing barriers to online learning, the QM program can improve learning outcomes by offering best practices in online course design, validating the quality of online courses, encouraging faculty buy-in through a focus on design rather than content, and facilitating degree completion through recognition of quality courses. Practical implications – Institutions that seek to validate online course quality in a cost-effective manner can explore a shared services model such as that developed by the OQMC. Originality/value – This paper introduces to an international audience a program and process, widely implemented in the USA, which encourages inter-institutional cooperation and promotes a supportive culture among online educators.

scholarly journals COMMUNICATION STRATEGY: A CASE STUDY BETWEEN LECTURER AND STUDENTS IN ONLINE ENGLISH COURSE

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 236
Author(s):  
Irene Brainnita Oktarin ◽  
Tyas Desita Wengrum
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Study Program ◽  
Good Communication

The Covid-19 pandemic is the main reason in doing online learning. The change in this learning process is one of the efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Lecturers and students must adapt with this changes so that the learning process can run well. Many problems that arise in online learning can be solved if the lecturer has good communication strategies and styles during the online learning process. This study aims to analyze and explain some problems that arise in online English course and some communication strategies between lecturer and students to improve the quality of learning. This is a qualitative study with case study method. The subjects of this study were a lecturer and 10 students of the 4th semester Management study program who took English courses. Data collection in this study was done by observation and interview. The result showed that the problems are learning burnout, students’ frustration, and obstacles in providing feedback from students. The communication strategy between lecturers and students during the online courses is very important, such as lecturer should plan the learning process as well as possible and create a creative, varied, and innovative way to foster student enthusiasm in learning, lecturer should apply two-way communication that providing opportunities for students in responding either in the form of questions, discussions, or comments, and implement a collaborative learning system strategy in the form of project based learning (PjBL) and problem based learning (PBL).

Bilingual learning strategies to support Chinese EAL business students

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Ann Ashton-Hay ◽  
Geoffrey Lamberton ◽  
Yining Zhou ◽  
Tania von der Heidt
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bilingual Learning ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to examine the effectiveness of bilingual learning strategies designed to support Chinese undergraduate business students facing significant learning challenges in an Australian university capstone curriculum delivered at their Chinese university. These challenges include the students’ difficulty understanding discipline-specific English terminology, using this terminology to discuss disciplinary concepts with their instructors and stress caused by an abnormally high study load. Design/methodology/approach In response to these challenges, the project team implemented a suite of bilingual strategies to reduce cognitive load and enhance learning, which included Chinese-English glossaries to build disciplinary-specific vocabularies; a bilingual teaching assistant to enable students to communicate in their language of choice; the use of WeChat to connect students to staff and to provide translanguaging opportunities; and bilateral managerial and academic support for strengthening the institutional cross-cultural relationship through staff exchange and language learning programs. A series of surveys were administered to measure the impact of these strategies on students’ learning, and WeChat logs were analysed to determine students’ linguistic preferences during discussions with staff and students. Findings The results of this project show strong support for each bilingual strategy, high academic performance amongst the student cohort, the positive contribution to learning and connection provided by social media technology, students’ language of choice preferences and chosen translanguaging styles and the important role of teaching staff in supporting international students’ intercultural learning and adaptation to a foreign university learning system. Originality/value This original evidence-based study helps to address the gap in bilingual education in Australian higher education demonstrating a successful strategy for dealing with language and discipline-specific challenges confronting EAL students.

The role of digital scholarship in academic libraries, the case of university of cape coast: opportunities and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Theophilus Kwamena Ocran ◽  
Paulina Afful-Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Learning Style ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Cape Coast ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Scholarship ◽  
The University

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to assess the role of academic libraries in digital scholarship at the University of Cape Coast. The study adopted the descriptive survey design and used teaching staff (lecturers) as the population of the study.Design/methodology/approachA sample size of 278 was used for the study. The study used questionnaires to obtain data from participants. The study revealed that faculty members appreciate digital scholarship through the services offered by Sam Jonah Library are relevant to the current higher education context, reliable information, preservation of information resources and facilitating the integration of library services into the learning process are closely integrated into the library service, transform scholarly communication, teaching and learning style and research paradigm.FindingsThe study revealed that digital scholarship contributes to faculty members' delivery at the University of Cape Coast through the provision of information literacy training for new students, provision of reference lists of materials available in the library and provision of lists of new materials. The study revealed that faculty members face inadequate facilities to enhance digital scholarship, inadequate open access to reading materials (articles, books, etc.), inadequate platforms or suite of tools for librarians to take faculty.Practical implicationsThe application of digital scholarship provides an expansion to the core competitiveness of librarians new services which enables innovativeness and transformation of libraries. Students will be equipped with digital literacy skills; it affords instructors to approach teaching with innovation and scholars are also engaged to perform novel practices in scholarship acquisition. Digital scholarship is the umbrella under which all academic technologies comes under to foster collaboration and better learning experience.Originality/valueThis paper offers an insight of the role digital scholarship in promoting and advancing scholarship in the academic environment. It highlights a number of digital scholarship platform available in the library. It is observed that digital scholarship practices must be encouraged in the library because it facilitates the role of academic library which is to support teaching, learning and research.

Intention to adopt online learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 46-65
Author(s):  
Boonlert Watjatrakul
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Big Five Personality ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Right ◽  
Emotional Value

PurposePersonality traits and perceived value have been the focus for research in online learning adoption. However, there is a lack of understanding of how the effects of perceived value on online learning adoption vary according to the different personality traits and the levels of a personality trait. This study explores the moderating roles of the Big Five personality traits (i.e. neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and agreeableness) in the relationships between the perceived value (i.e. value for money, quality, emotional value, and social value) and intention to study online courses.Design/methodology/approachA survey questionnaire was used to collect data from university students. This study used the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method to measure the quality of the formative and reflective constructs and examine the moderating effects of the five personality traits in four models. The regression of intention to study online courses on the perceived value at the different levels of a personality trait was analyzed by the simple slope analysis approach.FindingsThe study found that particular personality traits moderate the relationships between the perceived value and intention to study online courses. Neuroticism and openness to experience have the moderating effects on the relationship between perceived value for money and intention to study online courses. Neuroticism is the only personality trait that moderates the effect of perceived emotional value on intention to study online courses. In addition, the different levels of a personality trait differentially moderate the effects of the perceived value on intention to study online courses.Originality/valueThis study is considered among the first research attempting to explore the moderating roles of the Big Five personality traits in the context of online learning adoption. It bridges the research gap in online learning literature and generalizes the impacts of perceived value on online learning adoption to the different personality traits and the levels of a personality trait. The results provide guidance for educational institutions to develop an effective online learning strategy by creating and communicating the right value propositions to the right group of students based on their personality traits.

Go online or get sidelined

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-493
Author(s):  
Jayson W. Richardson ◽  
Sara Heintzelman
Keyword(s):  
Educational Leadership ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Technology Leadership ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Graduate ◽  
Graduate Certificate

Synopsis Young professors Baxter, Jim, and Robert are eager to start a new graduate certificate in educational leadership with a focus on technology. The department supports their initiative. The department is even supportive of offering this certificate fully online. Support waned when, in an effort to boost student enrollment, it is suggested that additional graduate courses and programs within the department also move fully online. In department meetings, faculty members argue about the rigor of online courses and if it is possible to convert existing courses and programs to an online delivery format. Tammy and Larry are veteran faculty members who do not want to teach online and have made it clear to the rest of the faculty they are not eager to change. When there are not enough students to offer their programs in the traditional format, all faculty members are forced to begin teach online. Research methodology This is a disguised field-researched case. Relevant courses and levels This case may be used in a variety of graduate business or education courses, such as introduction to business, business ethics, educational leadership, technology leadership, or higher education. Theoretical bases Students should have some understanding of systems change, ethical decision making, and human resources development.

scholarly journals Exploring the Nexus between Empowering Leadership and Work Engagement through Employee Resilience during Times of Covid 19

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-387
Author(s):  
Khawaja Khalid Mehmood ◽  
Shahbano Saeed
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Private Schools ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Empowering Leadership ◽  
Work From Home

Purpose: Online learning system was adopted by private schools across Pakistan to lessen students’ learning losses during the pandemic. It entailed the reliance on work from home model for their   teaching staff. The success of these institutions must have been driven by a leadership style espoused by them which helped to keep their employees engaged. Thus, drawing on the job demand resource principle, conservation of resource principle, and broaden and build theory, this could be argued that empowering leadership may have engendered employee resilience which ultimately kept intact the work engagement of employees. Moreover, moderating impact of psychological empowerment has been studied to determine extent to which it might influence the employee resilience nurtured by empowering leadership.  Design/Methodology/Approach: Respondents for this study were faculty members of the private schools affiliated with the Multan board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Pakistan. Probability sampling was employed to select the schools and the faculty members of those schools were given questionnaires. The total responses obtained were 210. Structural equation modeling involving moderated mediation techniques was utilized to conduct analyses. Findings: The study concluded that employee resilience mediated the association among empowering leadership and work engagement. However, the moderating effect was not proved. Implications/Originality/Value: The study pays an original contribution to research by linking empowering leadership with employee resilience and work engagement for the faculty members during the time of Covid-19 Pandemic. It suggests schools’ management to focus upon and reinforce empowering leadership for better work engagement of teachers. This would probably help them to retain students and sustain their performance.

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