scholarly journals E-learning in the time of COVID-19: Lived experiences of three university teachers from two countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 204275302110229
Author(s):  
Mohammad A Islam ◽  
Shakila Nur ◽  
Md. Shahrear Talukder
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Online Classroom ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenology ◽  
Policy Guideline ◽  
Teachers Experiences ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Near Future

This study set out to provide a descriptive yet critical exploration of teachers’ experiences while using e-learning in the context of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Using a qualitative phenomenology research paradigm, the study explored first-hand experiences of three university teachers (hence researchers as well) from two countries, that is, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. The contexts in which the researchers used e-learning showcased complex, challenging, and dynamic sites, that is, within institutions and individual classrooms. More specifically, the study identified acceptances, struggles, and negotiations at both the macro-level of policy/decision making and the micro-level of online classroom practices. Reflecting on the findings, this article concludes by offering a set of recommendations that might be applicable and useful for similar contexts beyond Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. The researchers argue for developing a context-based, inclusive, and appropriate e-learning policy guideline that could be utilized during the emergency time now and in the near future.

scholarly journals An outline of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and the complement cascade of immune system

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Padmalochan Hembram
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Main Body ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Transmission Chain ◽  
The World ◽  
Therapeutic Molecules ◽  
Rapid Transmission ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Near Future

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 19 is a viral infection caused by a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. It was first notified in Wuhan, China, is now spread into numerous part of the world. Thus, the world needs urgent support and encouragement to develop a vaccine or antiviral treatments to combat the atrocious outbreak. Main body of the abstract The origin of this virus is yet unknown; however, rapid transmission from human-to-human “Anthroponosis” has widely confirmed. The world is witnessing a continuous hike in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In light of the outbreak of coronavirus disease 19, we have aimed to highlight the basic and vital information about the novel coronavirus. We provide an overview of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, timeline and its pathophysiological properties which would be an aid for the development of therapeutic molecules and antiviral drugs. Immune system plays a crucial role in virus infection in order to control but may have dark side when becomes uncontrollable. The host and SARS-CoV-2 interaction describe how the virus exploits host machinery and how overactive host immune response can cause disease severity also addressed in this review. Short conclusion Safe and effective vaccines may be the game-changing tools, but in the near future wearing mask, washing hands at regular intervals, avoiding crowed, maintaining physical distancing and hygienic surrounding, must be good practices to reduce and break the transmission chain. Still, research is ongoing not only on how vaccines protect against disease, but also against infection and transmission.

scholarly journals Estimating COVID-19 cases in Makkah region of Saudi Arabia: Space-time ARIMA modeling

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250149
Author(s):  
Fuad A. Awwad ◽  
Moataz A. Mohamoud ◽  
Mohamed R. Abonazel
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Arima Model ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
World Health ◽  
Arima Models ◽  
Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average ◽  
First Case ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is spreading across the globe. By 30 Sep 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the number of cases worldwide had reached 34 million with more than one million deaths. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) registered the first case of COVID-19 on 2 Mar 2020. Since then, the number of infections has been increasing gradually on a daily basis. On 20 Sep 2020, the KSA reported 334,605 cases, with 319,154 recoveries and 4,768 deaths. The KSA has taken several measures to control the spread of COVID-19, especially during the Umrah and Hajj events of 1441, including stopping Umrah and performing this year’s Hajj in reduced numbers from within the Kingdom, and imposing a curfew on the cities of the Kingdom from 23 Mar to 28 May 2020. In this article, two statistical models were used to measure the impact of the curfew on the spread of COVID-19 in KSA. The two models are Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model and Spatial Time-Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (STARIMA) model. We used the data obtained from 31 May to 11 October 2020 to assess the model of STARIMA for the COVID-19 confirmation cases in (Makkah, Jeddah, and Taif) in KSA. The results show that STARIMA models are more reliable in forecasting future epidemics of COVID-19 than ARIMA models. We demonstrated the preference of STARIMA models over ARIMA models during the period in which the curfew was lifted.

scholarly journals Studying the prominence effect amid the COVID-19 crisis: implications for public health policy decision-making.

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1356
Author(s):  
Yossi Maaravi ◽  
Ben Heller
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Matching Condition ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
The Other ◽  
Choice Condition ◽  
Health Concerns ◽  
Prominence Effect ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Cost

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought with it crucial policy- and decision-making situations, especially when making judgments between financial and health concerns. One particularly relevant decision-making phenomenon is the prominence effect, where decision-makers base their decisions on the most prominent attribute of the object at hand (e.g., health concerns) rather than weigh all the attributes together. This bias diminishes when the decision-making mode inhibits heuristic processes. In this study, we tested the prominence of health vs. financial concerns across two decision-making modes - choice (prone to heuristics) and matching (mitigates heuristics) - during the peak of the COVID-19 in the UK using Tversky et al.’s classic experimental paradigm. We added to the classic experimental design a priming condition. Participants were presented with two casualty-minimization programs, differing in lives saved and costs: program X would save 100 lives at the cost of 55-million-pound sterling, whereas program Y would save 30 lives at the cost of 12-million-pound sterling. Half of the participants were required to choose between the programs (choice condition). The other half were not given the cost of program X and were asked to determine what the cost should be to make it as equally attractive as the program Y. Participants in both groups were primed for either: a) financial concerns; b) health concerns; or c) control (no priming). Results showed that in the choice condition, unless primed for financial concerns, health concerns are more prominent. In the matching condition, on the other hand, the prominence of health concerns did not affect decision-makers, as they all “preferred” the cheaper option. These results add further support to the practical relevance of using the proper decision-making modes in times of consequential crises where multiple concerns, interests, and parties are involved.

scholarly journals Evolution of Nucleotide Composition in the SARS-CoV-2 Lineage: Implications for Vaccine Design

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sankar Subramanian
Keyword(s):  
Base Composition ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Significant Positive Correlation ◽  
Gc Content ◽  
Nucleotide Composition ◽  
Reverse Direction ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Systematic Reduction ◽  
Gc Contents

The worldwide outbreak of a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has caused a pandemic of respiratory disease. Due to this emergency, researchers around the globe have been investigating the evolution of the genome of SARS-CoV-2 in order to design vaccines. Here I examined the evolution of GC content of SARS-CoV-2 by comparing the genomes of the members of the group Betacoronavirus. The results of this investigation revealed a highly significant positive correlation between the GC contents of betacoronaviruses and their divergence from SARS-CoV-2. The betacoronaviruses that are distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 have much higher GC contents than the latter. Conversely, the closely related ones have low GC contents, which are only slightly higher than that of SARS-CoV-2. This suggests a systematic reduction in the GC content in the SARS-CoV-2 lineage over time. The declining trend in this lineage predicts a much-reduced GC content in the coronaviruses that will descend/evolve from SARS-CoV-2 in the future. Due to the three consecutive outbreaks (MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) caused by the members of the SARS-CoV-2, the scientific community is emphasizing the need for universal vaccines that are effective across many strains including those, that will inevitably emerge in the near future. The reduction in GC contents implies an increase in the rate of GC→AT mutations than that the mutational changes in the reverse direction. Therefore, understanding the evolution of base composition and mutational patterns of SARS-CoV-2 could be useful in designing broad-spectrum vaccines that could identify and neutralize the present and future strains of this virus.

scholarly journals Tertiary Teachers Strike (TTS) and e-Learning Deficit amidst Covid-19 Crisis in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Okoro Ukaogo ◽  
◽  
Florence Onyebuchi Orabueze ◽  
Chika Kate Ojukwu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Group Discussion ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Learning Deficit ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
The World ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The One ◽  
Participant Observer

Amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic across the world and the debilitating tertiary teachers strike in Nigeria, this study’s objective seeks to examine the prevailing un-lived experiences of Nigerian tertiary students in e-learning. The study argues that Covid-19 has widened the digital divide between Nigerian universities and other universities in other parts of the world on the one hand and between public and private tertiary institutions in Nigeria on the other. This e-learning deficit is worsened by university teachers’ strikes, constituting a twin inhibition into which higher education is consigned in Nigeria. The study identifies poor funding of education as a major constraint to virtual learning and instruction faced by public tertiary students especially in the era of the pandemic. Data collection for the study will be carried out through oral interviews basically focus group discussion (FGD) from a sample population of 50 university students (male and female) in three universities across the southeast region of Nigeria, newspaper reports, and participant-observer methods of research analysis.

scholarly journals Pedagogical design in the design of educational materials when creating electronic courses

2021 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 00045
Author(s):  
O.A. Kalimullina ◽  
A.N. Afzalova ◽  
Y.N. Kuznetsova
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Practical Aspect ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Electronic Environment ◽  
Pedagogical Design ◽  
E Learning

The article indicates the importance of the principles of pedagogical design and pedagogical design in ensuring the effectiveness of e-learning. The author considers the features and advantages of blended learning for both students and university teachers in general, shows the possibilities of using the electronic environment within the framework of full-time and distance learning. The practical aspect of these problems is considered, which is associated with the fact that few teachers are ready to master the latest technologies, design the content and organizational aspects of the digital educational space, adapt the educational process to the requirements of an innovative society, since there are no ideas about the digital educational space as a whole.

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