scholarly journals Transformation of learning from real to virtual: an exploratory-descriptive analysis of issues and challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmeen Shamsi Rizvi ◽  
Asma Nabi
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Video Quality ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Teaching Learning

PurposeAs online teaching/learning is a new phenomenon with reference to regular degree programs in institutions of higher education in India (the situation having being thrust upon both students and faculty due to COVID-19 pandemic), an exploratory-descriptive study was carried out to find out how public university students in India perceive online teaching/learning (OTL) during the present pandemic, the methods of OTL being used by faculty and the challenges being faced by the students.Design/methodology/approachOnline interviews with 40 students of three public universities in Delhi/NCR were conducted using open-ended and close-ended questions. The questionnaire was emailed to 82 university students of Commerce and Management specialisation out of which 40 responded. We analysed each participants interview responses using content analysis technique and categorised the themes/factors that emerged under suitable headings using the coding method. The frequencies of the occurrence of the themes/factors were thus determined and documented, and percentages were calculated. The questionnaire also had Likert-scale questions as they are useful to measure latent constructs.FindingsInadequate bandwidth and poor network connectivity were found to be major hindrances during OT/L. The other challenges were unsuitable home environment for attending online classes, feeling of isolation and demotivation due to lack of face-to-face interaction and excessive screen-time causing fatigue. Active online methods such as live lectures by faculty and article/case study/discussions facilitated live by faculty were most preferred while the passive method of learning such as online certification courses through education portals such as Swayam/ Coursera/Udemy, etc were least preferred. The level of satisfaction from student–faculty interaction was more than that from student–student interaction.Research limitations/implicationsThe study covered three public universities in India and the sample size was small because of limitations created by COVID-19 pandemic situation as campuses were closed and it was not possible to meet students personally to get responses.Practical implicationsUniversities should provide data cards or access to university computer labs to those students who are from economically weaker sections of society so that online teaching may be effective. This will also help students who live in very small houses and do not have a quiet corner to study online. Other solution would be to reduce online teaching duration. This issue needs the attention of educational institution leaders as most universities have scheduled classes from morning till evening, as it was during real classroom teaching. Eight hours of online classes every day may not be feasible when Internet access is a critical problem. Teachers should encourage interaction between students so that the feeling of isolation may be reduced and students may be motivated to learn and take more interest in virtual classes.Social implications50% of the Indian population does not have access to the Internet, while a large section that does have, cannot afford the cost of high-speed data that is needed for long-duration online classes spanning over months. Those who can afford it, do not have the privacy to engage effectively in classes on video conferencing portals. Both students and teachers suffer due to poor audio and video quality caused by poor infrastructure. COVID-19 has brought to focus, the severe inequality in some societies. Societies need to take serious cognizance of this issue and take appropriate measures.Originality/valueThis study is very unique as the radical change from real classroom to online teaching in Indian public universities is a very unique phenomenon. The disruption was forced due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and students along with their teachers learned the process “on-the-job”. As the issues and challenges faced by students were unexplored, this study aims to contribute knowledge to this existing research gap.

scholarly journals TRANSITIONING TO ONLINE EDUCATION IN ENGLISH DEPARTMENTS IN BANGLADESH: LEARNER PERSPECTIVES

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Bashir ◽  
Md Elias Uddin ◽  
Bijoy Lal Basu ◽  
Rubina Khan
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English Departments ◽  
Access And Equity ◽  
Logistic Support ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Almost All

During the brief coronavirus-induced hiatus in March and April 2020, educational institutions in Bangladesh including public universities began preparations for online classes. By the end of June, almost all private universities and a few public universities had started online classes with limited or no preparation which was met with appreciation as well as censure from different stakeholders. Against this backdrop, this study was conducted with a view to examining the online teaching learning scenario at Bangladeshi public universities from the perspective of one important stakeholder, the students, with a specific focus on the challenges they faced in this new mode of instruction. Suggestions were also sought from them regarding how the barriers to online instruction could be overcome. Data were collected from 26 students of English Departments of 11 public universities through semi-structured interviews. The major challenges reported in the data include issues of access and equity, inadequate logistic support and poor infrastructure. Concerns related to curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and psychological issues were also highlighted. In addition, lack of prior experience and training were identified as serious obstacles. Major suggestions from the participants include ensuring access and equity, providing training opportunities and digital devices to students and engaging in curriculum and assessment reforms. 

Online teaching benefits and challenges during pandemic COVID-19: a comparative study of Pakistan and Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahib Khatoon Thaheem ◽  
Mohamad Jafre Zainol Abidin ◽  
Quratulain Mirza ◽  
Habib Ullah Pathan
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Research Society ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference

PurposeThe shift from physical class to online classes in the pandemic COVID-19 situation has posited opportunities as well as challenges for teachers and students. The primary purpose of this research is to investigate challenges faced and benefits availed by the teachers at the tertiary level in universities of Pakistan and Indonesia.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the purpose a mixed-method approach is employed to answer the three research questions of the present study. The quantitative data is obtained from the responses of 66 teachers, teaching online in Mehran UET Pakistan and 102 teachers from Indonesian university. The personal, technological, and pedagogical challenges were analyzed by descriptive statistics on SPSS. Thus, the independent-samples t-test was run to test for statistically significant differences faced by teachers in both countries.FindingsThe findings revealed that there were no statistically significant differences found in personal, and pedagogical challenges faced by both countries' teachers, whereas there is a significant difference in facing technological challenges between Pakistani and Indonesian teachers. The benefits of online teaching were investigated qualitatively by conducting semi-structured interviews with 10 teachers 5 from each country. There are very positive aspects of online teaching revealed in the interviews.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper includes implications for the development of Computer Assisted Language Learning, the development of technology integrated courses, and for managing the balance between physical and online classes.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study have implications on finding out the solutions of the derived challenges, further it suggests to concentrate on students of public and private universities in Pakistan and Indonesia so that a comparison of challenges faced by teachers and faced by students can be researched and evaluated and it can generate significantly different results.Social implicationsThe implications on the research society and the teachers and designers' communities are very clear in this research because it paves the way forward towards the blending of technology in any way either synchronously/ asynchronously into education, further researches can be done on designing the new concepts, courses, instructional platforms for students and investigate the new dimensions and effects of them.Originality/valueFindings have value, because two countries' context (developing countries) with respect to the comparison of the challenges and benefits is better understood, it would have different results if had done in the developed countries.

Impact of COVID-19 on an Educational Institution of India

2021 ◽  
pp. 300-311
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Madathilathu Samuel
Keyword(s):  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Virtual Classrooms ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Traditional Mode ◽  
History Of

The year 2020 has made a mark in the history of mankind. India, too, was affected by the pandemic. To ensure a curb on the spread of the disease, India adopted a sequence emergency mechanism. It announced the closure of all educational institutions along with all the other establishments as a part of strict social distancing measures. The traditional mode of teaching and learning transitioned into online teaching. Online learning and virtual classrooms became the 'new normal'. The analysis was carried out using the data collected through structured questionnaire from 35 teachers in Kottayam District, Kerala a southern state of India. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics. It is evident from the study that the teachers lack in the use of various teaching methods for motivating and encouraging students. Further on, since the teachers were caught off guard, they had not received any formal or professional training to conduct online classes or use the advanced modes of technology.

scholarly journals COVID-19 responsive teaching of undergraduate architecture programs in India: learnings for post-pandemic education

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anurag Varma ◽  
Mohammad Shoeb Jafri
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Architecture Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Education In India ◽  
Teaching Learning

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to have an overview of how Indian institutions offering undergraduate architecture programs have responded to the pandemic situation. It seeks to appraise the alternative approaches adopted for teaching-learning, communication, assignment and evaluation and assess their effectiveness for progressive improvisations or integration with pedagogy. The paper articulates a view on the suitability of online teaching for architecture education in India, on basis of educators' experiences of teaching during the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted for obtaining primary data from the educators given the paucity of information. The questions elicited structured information on aspects of the transition process, IT/online platform and tools, the efficacy of online teaching-learning and trajectory of blended learning.FindingsAll institutions managed the transition to online teaching without much difficulty. However, the paper raises the need for professional training and feedback from students. One-third of the respondents express satisfaction with online teaching, despite low satisfaction about the effectiveness of online teaching of a design studio. The results convey the need for more engagement with digital tools and representational software on integrated platforms. The study finds consensus on the future potential of blended learning and advocates developing an integrated framework and curriculum for architecture education in India.Originality/valueThe paper synthesizes viewpoints on online teaching-learning of architecture program in wake of the pandemic from an educators' perspective. The emergent perspectives are viewed dialogically in context of global voices to articulate a future trajectory of blended learning in the domain of architecture education.

Blogs As A Learning Space: Creating Text Of Talks

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Nicholas E. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Traditional Method ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Traditional Classroom ◽  
Teaching Methodology ◽  
Traditional Teaching ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Learning Space ◽  
Teaching Learning

This paper explored the pedagogical preparations taken by the researcher in integrating blogs to the traditional classroom experience as well as its use in online classes as a tool for students to write about what they have learned in class and relate it to everyday life. The researcher utilized web blog, combined Facebook and Multiply blogsites, in the online teaching. Utilization of blogsites to supplement the traditional method of teaching was a welcome innovation for most students. The study involved thirty-eight (38) enrolled students of the course English 111. The familiarity and convenience of facebook and multiply blogsites makes learning and complying to requirements an enjoyable task. Blogs as a learning space for English 111 was an effective teaching methodology appreciated by the students. However, the integration of blogs in the traditional teaching learning process requires preparation and planning on the part of the teacher so that applicable and timely activities could be given to the students.

scholarly journals Comparative evaluation of COVID-19 pandemic enforced online teaching versus traditional teaching from point of view of medical students

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Radhika Vijay
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Traditional Teaching ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Traditional Mode ◽  
Teaching Learning

Background: The current ongoing coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought a sea change in education teaching learning system, ways and methodologies. Online teaching has been enforced suddenly for students worldwide. It has become a substitute to traditional teaching. Aware of the fact that the Corona pandemic has changed the way of learning teaching, we want to find out what students think about their real predispositions. This study is to compare and evaluate the opinions, preferences, experiences of undergraduate medical students during continuous online classes since the onset of Pandemic times.Methods: A sample size of 115 undergraduate medical students of batch 2019 was taken for the study done in Sardar Patel Medical College of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India in October 2020.A questionnaire was prepared using Google forms application and was filled by students online.Results: Majority of students had a preference and interest for traditional mode of teaching, they agreed on better understanding of concepts and details of topic and grasping more of knowledge through it. But majority of students also agreed that they are getting more time to study now with online teaching.Conclusions: This study gives an in depth insight into the current ongoing online teaching methodologies and throws light on changing acceptance of students to the current COVID-19 pandemic ways of teaching and on welcoming a better “blended learning” pattern in the upcoming Post COVID-19 new normal times.

scholarly journals The relationship between academic integrity of online university students and its effects on academic performance and learning quality

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Majda I. Ayoub/Al-Salim ◽  
Khaled Aladwan
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
University Students ◽  
Academic Integrity ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Ethical Values ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Online University Students ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between academic integrity of online university students and its effects on academic performance and learning quality. The first hypothesis aimed to see if there is statistically significant relationship between academic honesty of students taking online classes and their apparent academic performance. The second hypothesis aimed to see if there is a statistically significant difference in academic integrity among male and female students. The third hypothesis aimed to see if there was a statistically significant relationship between academic honesty of students and their quality of learning. Design/methodology/approach This is a quantitative study; data was collected via student emails from 155 active online university students. Findings There was a positive linear relationship for the first hypothesis, the relationship is relatively weak as the value of Pearson correlation was (0.172). For the second hypothesis, the results showed that there was no significant difference between males and females. The results for the third hypothesis showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between academic integrity of students taking online classes and academic learning quality. This relationship is relatively strong. Research limitations/implications The sample size may have been a limitation for generalizing the results. Practical implications As a practical implication, authors recommend that education administrators focus on training their faculty members to stress and instill strong ethical values, such as academic integrity and honesty, in their students all throughout their academic journey. Social implications As for social implication, the embracing of ethical values in students, graduates may continue to embrace such values in the workplace which may lead to more reputable and profitable work environment where the society at large benefits. Originality/value This research is among the pioneers that attempted to study the connection of academic integrity and learning quality from the students’ perspective.

scholarly journals A Structural Approach to E-learning During COVID–19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 252-258
Author(s):  
Zeb Fatima
Keyword(s):  
Online Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Impact

This research work explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on classrooms teaching in school and colleges and on finding e-learning solution to ensure the continuity of the teaching process. The physical presence of the student in the classroom has been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The only way in which the classes can continue is through online teaching programmes. This research tries to examine how effective is online teaching in a higher educational institution in Oman and worldwide. Here we will see the three dimensions of online education, namely (a) preparation, (b) execution, and (c) verification. Verification leads to negative and positive results. These results reflect real-life experiences and ideas shared by the stakeholders, the instructors, and the students who participate in online classes. We will also explain and examine various challenges and solutions involved in making this system more effective. This study gives us an insight into the mechanism, dimensions, and strategies of E-learning.

scholarly journals Online University Students’ Perceptions on the Awareness of, Reasons for, and Solutions to Plagiarism in Higher Education: The Development of the AS&P Model to Combat Plagiarism

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 12055
Author(s):  
Muhammad Abid Malik ◽  
Ameema Mahroof ◽  
Muhammad Azeem Ashraf
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Prevention Model ◽  
Online University Students ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Academic Plagiarism

Academic plagiarism has remained a major concern for higher education institutions, as it hampers not only the quality of the teaching-learning process and research, but also the overall educational institution. This issue appears to be even more serious in online and distance education institutions. As a result, a qualitative study was conducted on an online university in Pakistan to investigate the determinants of academic plagiarism and to find ways to address this issue. The students were given an open-ended questionnaire to reflect their opinions on the awareness and understanding of plagiarism, its determinants, and ways to address it. The findings revealed that most of the 267 online university students had a poor awareness and understanding of plagiarism. Major reasons for students’ plagiarism turned out to be a lack of a proactive approach to create awareness, an omission of citation conventions from course content, untrained teachers, a lack of strict penalties and their proper implementation, poor time management, a fear of failure, a lack of confidence, laziness, and a culture of plagiarism. The study proposes the Awareness, Support, and Prevention model (AS&P model) to address this issue in higher education institutions.

CoVid-19: Unmasking the new face of Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 48-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shatakshi Lall ◽  
Nardev Singh
Keyword(s):  
Online Teaching ◽  
Traditional Classroom ◽  
Online Classes ◽  
Online Activity ◽  
Computer Based Learning ◽  
Online Mode ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The University ◽  
Observational Descriptive Study

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a newly discovered infectious disease caused by a virus named "coronavirus." The lockdown due to COVID 19 has largely affected the lives of students as they no more get to interact on a one on one basis with their teachers. This shift in education from traditional classroom learning to computer-based learning might be one of the largest educational experiments to date. As the online teaching-learning process has become more prevalent in India due to COVID 19 pandemic, it becomes particularly important to know its growth and to know whether it's actually helping the students achieve what they expect out of college. The present study was therefore designed to understand the student's perspective, attitudes, and readiness about online classes being conducted at the University level. An Observational, Descriptive study was conducted. The data was collected using a Questionnaire. The present study was carried out amongst 200 students. After analyzing the results, it was found that 74% of the students liked studying through online classes. The most common reason (49%) as to why the students like studying online were that the study time becomes flexible, and they can study anytime they want. Lack of co-curricular activity was the most common issue (34%) of online classes, as reported by the students. Most of the students were found satisfied with the content and procedure of online teaching. About 30% of the students reported that they prefer their lecture being delivered through a PPT with an audio recording. The present study that was conducted among college students revealed that maximum students are in favor of studying through online classes, but they feel that there is a lack of co-curricular activities in the online mode of conducting classes. As the students are in favor of online classes, such classes must be continued with some interventions.  Education  Ministry must develop certain rules and guidelines wherein certain online activity sessions can be made compulsory along with regular lecture sessions.

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