scholarly journals Journalism Education in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: Pros and Cons

Author(s):  
Alexander Grabelnikov ◽  
Natalia Gegelova ◽  
Elizaveta Osipovskaya ◽  
Victor Ott

The article discusses journalism education affected by the increased information scope, media convergence and introduction of new online teaching forms and face-to-screen communication during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the introduction of distance learning at universities, the quality of teaching and learning has been debated by students, teaching staff and officials. By having to overcome the difficulties, the students majoring in Journalism develop a necessary skill of gathering information and issuing school newspapers, radio and TV programs in the new informational reality of the crisis. The study included a survey aimed at finding out how students and faculty assess effectiveness of distance learning in COVID-19 context. Using a method of case study to make a complex analysis, the authors examine the academic process at the RUDN’s Department of Mass Communications as empirical object. The survey results reveal the key problems the respondents had to face when organizing and participating in the online learning process. The survey also helped to indicate the most convenient applications for online lecturing and the most effective teaching techniques, and to analyze the performance of the university’s internal telecommunication learning and information system.

Author(s):  
Marina V. Polevaya ◽  
Elena V. Kamneva ◽  
Sergey A. Polevoy ◽  
Margarita M. Simonova ◽  
Svetlana M. Buyanova ◽  
...  

Relevance. The article discusses the problems of the transition of universities to a distance learning format. The transfer of universities to a remote format due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus allowed students to continue to receive training, which varied significantly due to technologies, the choice of which was determined by the current capabilities of educational institutions. The article analyzes the result of a study of the attitude and assessment of teachers and students organizing and conducting training outside the educational institution with the use of distance technologies. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of teaching and learning in a distance format in higher education during the spread of a new coronavirus infection. The objectives of the study are to identify factors that have influenced the quality of the implementation of educational programs in full in the electronic information and educational environment. The results of the study. A serious influence of the distance learning format on the quality of the teacher-student interaction was revealed (it has significantly decreased), which is undoubtedly one of the factors that reduce studentsʼ motivation to learn. For many respondents, distance learning and teaching was the first experience of a distance learning format, and therefore the attitude towards it is rather complicated. A significant scatter in the format of the classes, their completeness and content within the framework of distance learning, the low proportion of the teaching staff prepared for its implementation, and the generally low level of technical, methodological and legal support show that the majority of Russian universities are not ready to introduce distance learning. The transition to an online training format caused the majority of respondents discomfort and negative emotional experiences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1041-1043
Author(s):  
Dr. Khursheeda Khatoon

The education system all over the world is been highly affected by coronavirus and Covid-10 pandemic when the lockdown was announced worldwide. In order to control and prevent the spread of the virus, the schools, colleges, and even the universities was closed. This closure of educational instititutes had bought up number of difficulties for the student, teacher, and the parents as well and inorder to overcome the situation and continue the system of education, online or distance learning policy was offered and adapted by each and everyone that were associated with the educational system. It was a challenge for the developing countries wgwre thre is lack of facilities like internet access, infrastructure, and gadgets as well. There were countries where the fee of internet was reduced, educational resources were provided by the governing bodies so as to fill the gap. There is a huge pressure on the teaching staff to adapt the online teaching mode and conduct the classes by first learning the process for themselves. Everyone had make all the efforts to learn and adapt the new way of teaching and learning and making the process smooth in the coronavirus pandemic situation.


Author(s):  
Katarina Diklić ◽  
Života Radosavljević ◽  
Jelena Palić

Covid 19 is a disease that has spread all over the world. It caused upheavals in all societies and segments of society. This also relates to the Serbian society and its educational system. Education, as an important part of society, experienced a concussion. Serbia's cumbersome education system, many ongoing reforms, dissatisfaction of educators, many unresolved issues were now additionally burdened by the crown and everything it brings with it. How much of the education system, to which the primary school belongs, has successfully responded to these changes? The inflexibility and inelasticity of the education system was a major obstacle in response to such a large demand made by the Coronavirus. The transition from school to online teaching was stressful for all participants: pupils, parents and teachers. In addition to changes in the way of working, primary schools in Serbia have faced problems with the lack of information technology needed for distance learning, teaching staff who are not educated for this type of teaching, but also the quality of such teaching. All this raised the question of the quality of knowledge that pupils acquired during distance learning. The paper will discuss the management of the primary school at the time of the Covid 19, the problems encountered and how they were solved.


Author(s):  
Ashleigh J. Fletcher ◽  
Mark Haw ◽  
Miguel Jorge ◽  
Kenneth Moffat

Online teaching and learning opens up great opportunities, particularly in terms of widening access to education, but also poses important challenges related to delivery, student engagement, adapting contents, and ensuring reliability of assessment. Some of these challenges assume particular relevance in engineering degrees, due to their strong practical dimension, the connection to industrial practice, and the need for programme accreditation. This chapter focuses on the example of the Chemical Engineering Distance Learning degree at the University of Strathclyde, describing its decade-long transformation from a mainly correspondence-based course to a fully online programme. The main challenges faced by course directors and teaching staff are identified, and the response to those challenges is critically discussed. Finally, a reflection is presented on the future of distance learning programmes in the context of expected developments enabled by online technologies, artificial intelligence, and collection of rich datasets on learner engagement and development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 61-83
Author(s):  
I. P. Visković

Introduction. Managing the formal education system during COVID-19 has become an unwanted challenge for the academic community. Without suffi time for preparations, different models of distance education were applied. The aim was to ensure the continuity of teaching, to encourage the process of distance learning, and to enable their evaluation.Aim. This study aimed to analyse the opinions of students from the Department of Early Childhood Education (hereafter ECE) at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (hereafter Faculty), University of Split, on their study conditions during the COVID-19 from March 2020. It was assumed that learning in an online environment encourages the development of new learning strategies. Family and work status and residence of students (in the place of study or outside it) were taken as predictor variables in assessing the quality and conditions of the study.Methodology and research methods. The research was conducted online at the end of the 2020 academic year when students gathered online teaching experiences. The Google Apps tool was used in the data collection process. The Ethics Committee of the Faculty at the University of Split gave its consent to the implementation of this research. During online teaching, all students are informed about the purpose and course of research. Research included 68,75 % students (n = 156) studying at the ECE Department. The following aspects were investigated: forms and frequencies of distance learning; the possibility of students’ response to study obligations (due to closed libraries); difficulties, advantages and possibilities of conducting online teaching; students’ dissatisfaction with the quality of the organisation and implementation of online teaching, and opportunities for quality development.Results. Findings identified difficulties in the lack of ICT competencies of both students and teachers, mixed-use of different platforms, workload and lack of adequate literature. Students assessed the greater availability of teaching materials and more reachable teachers as positive, and experience of discussions on social networks as one of the useful ways of distance learning. By exchanging the content of teaching materials, they developed new learning strategies and showed possible new adaptations to learning using social networking. Students’ dissatisfaction with online teaching could be interpreted by their subjective reasons and contextual conditions.Scientific novelty. The data processed in this research are triangulated with worldwide research on study conditions during lockdowns. It can be concluded that regardless of the previous lockdowns basic use of ICT (sending and receiving seminar tasks over e-mail), most higher education institutions were not ready for an overall transition to online teaching. The findings point to the need for systematic research into the possibilities of applying new technologies in the study process (learning, availability of relevant sources, networking of scientists, and quality exchange of information).Practical significance. Given that before the COVID-19 at this Faculty there was no similar research, nor experience with any online teaching forms, it is difficult to determine the extent of the change. Nevertheless, it is possible to conclude that the teaching staff did not have adequate ICT competencies for the implementation of quality online teaching. The quality of teaching in this research was contributed by more reachable teaching staff and their willingness to cooperate. In the changed living conditions as a consequence of the pandemic, it is possible to expect further changes in the way of studying. The insight and analysis of students’ opinions through this research could contribute to the development of the quality of the teaching process in any given crisis.


2021 ◽  
pp. 204275302110388
Author(s):  
Talha A Sharadgah ◽  
Rami A Sa’di

The purpose of this study is to suggest priorities for reorienting traditional institutions of higher education (IHE) toward online teaching and learning beyond the COVID-19 experience. This research applied the qualitative research method. Data collection sources included both a systematic literature review relating to how COVID-19 informed online distance learning across the globe and an analysis of circulars germane to the pandemic that were issued by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Saudi Arabia and by Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU). Guided by those two types of data, that is, review of the literature in general and the MOE and PSAU circulars in particular, and also illuminated by their own experiences of online teaching during the lockdown, the researchers were able to put forward those priorities. For the systematic review of the literature, five steps were performed: (1) identifying search terms and developing and applying a search strategy; (2) screening the obtained research papers, removing duplicates and papers outside the focal point, and establishing inclusion/exclusion criteria; (3) assessing the research papers against the inclusion/exclusion criteria; (4) data extraction; and (5) data synthesis. Although this article does not suggest traditional IHE should go entirely digital, it highlights the need for IHE to ensure access to online learning content, develop more partnerships with community, develop online self-study skills, get students to shift from passive to active learning, and a need to reconsider current e-assessment. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need to provide additional support for faculty members, how university buildings should be gradually reopened, controlling factors influencing online learning outcomes, and addressing the issue of dropouts in IHE. Finally, the study underlines the need to add further emphasis to the importance of integrating blended learning in the university curriculum and navigating toward developing global distance learning programs.


10.28945/3205 ◽  
2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemieke Craig ◽  
Annegret Goold ◽  
Jo Coldwell ◽  
Jamie Mustard

The extensive introduction of online technologies to support teaching and learning is impacting how teachers teach and students learn. It is also affecting both teaching staff s and students’ perceptions of what each others’ roles are. The research reported here is part of a larger study that explored different aspects of teaching and learning in online environments. This study was undertaken within an Australian university and involved an institution-wide survey of students. The paper reports on students’ perceptions of their roles as online learners and the expectations they have of online teachers. The outcomes of the research suggest that different cohorts of students have different expectations. These expectations are informed by their mode of study and also by their perceptions of how staff engage with online teaching. Recommendations include proactive management of student expectations by staff, as well as a commitment by staff to meet those expectations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4-1) ◽  
pp. 113-128
Author(s):  
Andrey Ivanov ◽  
◽  
Irina Fotieva ◽  

The article considers two interrelated problems of modern Russian higher education: the strengthening of administrative coercion and control as well as the introduction of distance education. As a theoretical and methodological basis of the study, the authors rely on the socio-philosophical analysis of the problems of education in the famous S.I. Hessen’s work, where three basic principles of the effective functioning of the university are highlighted: the completeness of scientific knowledge, the freedom of teaching and learning, and self-government. The authors substantiate the view that at present all these principles are violated. Violation of the first of them is manifested in a decrease in hours devoted to the teaching of fundamental disciplines and in a general orientation toward the graduation of a “narrow” specialist; the second principle is incompatible with the extremely increased reporting of universities and overly formalized indicators of the quality of their work. Violation of the third principle is manifested in the gradual elimination of university autonomy, in particular, free election of rectors. The most negative manifestation of administrative pressure, according to the authors, today is the forced introduction of distance learning. The authors critically analyze the main arguments put forward in favor of this project: saving university budgets, ensuring a higher quality of teaching, the need to follow the general logic of modernization of education as a whole. The solution to financial problems, according to the authors, should not be based on forced economy, but on the competent organization of the country’s economic life. An appeal to a higher quality of teaching, which, it is argued, must be provided by teachers from the country’s central universities, is based on biased and unproven ideas. In addition, for mastering critical and systematic thinking skills, conducting scientific discussions, direct communication between teachers and students is necessary, which is not feasible in the conditions of online teaching with a very large number of students. In addition, the authors highlight the idea that nobody takes into account the need for close knowledge of a particular audience by a teacher to choose an adequate style of lecturing or conducting practical classes. The article concludes that the current administrative-bureaucratic style of managing higher education, in which not only the basic principles of the successful functioning of the latter are violated, but also destructive reforms are carried out, is destructive not only for education as such, but also for the state itself.


Author(s):  
Trish Andrews

The growth of e-learning, particularly distance learning via e-learning, is widely recognised as a significant factor influencing higher education in the 21st century. The rapid and ongoing uptake of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for teaching and learning, along with the recognition that increased student engagement can lead to more effective learning, is changing the way in which teaching and learning occurs in universities. This chapter suggests that the distance learner is frequently overlooked in the current climate when it comes to consideration of student needs and that current applications of ICT for distance learning raises questions about the quality of their learning experience. The chapter discusses the role of the student voice in understanding and addressing students’ needs in relation to the quality of their learning experience and suggests that greater attention needs to be paid to the distinct voice of the distance education student. The chapter provides some methodologies for collecting the student’s voice and gives consideration to how addressing the distance learners’ voice to enhance their learning experience might be most effectively accomplished.


Author(s):  
Catherine F. Flynn

Higher education has a long history of incivility, and the advent of distance learning has further exacerbated the issues. Increasing incivility in our society adds another challenging dimension to combating incivility and maintaining a supportive, educational environment. This chapter addresses the challenges of maintaining civility in the online teaching and learning environment that facilitates access 24/7. Specific issues relevant to disruptive actions in distance learning are covered, as well as strategies for preventing and reducing online incivility. Promoting a sense of connectiveness and social interaction is recommended, while also maintaining a professional relationship. Online culture is discussed as a key element in establishing an effective online environment.


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