scholarly journals Online Delivery of Teaching and Laboratory Practices: Continuity of University Programmes during COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 291
Author(s):  
Kelum A. A. Gamage ◽  
Dilani I. Wijesuriya ◽  
Sakunthala Y. Ekanayake ◽  
Allan E. W. Rennie ◽  
Chris G. Lambert ◽  
...  

A great number of universities worldwide are having their education interrupted, partially or fully, by the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Consequently, an increasing number of universities have taken the steps necessary to transform their teaching, including laboratory workshops into an online or blended mode of delivery. Irrespective of the measures taken, universities must continue to maintain their high academic standards and provide a high-quality student experience as required for delivery of learning outcomes associated with each degree programme. This has created a challenge across the higher education landscape, where academics had to switch to remote teaching and different approaches to achieving laboratory delivery. As a result, students have not been receiving face-to-face teaching, and access to laboratory facilities has been limited or nearly impossible. This paper reviews numerous approaches taken by universities to deliver teaching and laboratory practices remotely, in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst also considering the potential impacts on the student learning experience. This review is primarily focused on the fields of engineering, science and technology, based on published literature including books, reviewing web-based provision of selected universities, institutional and national policy documents.

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 111-131
Author(s):  
Dawn Adams ◽  
Kate Simpson ◽  
Lynda Davies ◽  
Chris Campbell ◽  
Libby Macdonald

Online course delivery is increasingly being used by universities to deliver accessible and flexible learning environments. As this mode of delivery grows it is important to consider the equity of the learning experience for all students. As online delivery may reduce challenges and stressors present in face-to-face delivery, it could be suggested that it may promote student learning for specific student groups, including those with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. However, little is known about the experience of learning online for students on the autism spectrum. This paper presents findings from two studies: A systematic review of the literature and a survey of students on the autism spectrum studying online. From the systematic literature review, only four previous studies were identified reporting on this topic. Findings from two studies identified that the online environment provided both facilitators and barriers to the learning experience for students on the autism spectrum. Although the online environment provided flexibility for learning, how design factors are employed in online delivery may unintentionally create barriers to the learning experience for students on the spectrum. An outcome from this study has been the creation of a suite of resources to assist with course design and delivery.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingxiao Qiu ◽  
Shanshan Chen ◽  
Cong Wang ◽  
Caihong Liu ◽  
Huaqi Wang ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Lung transplantation recipients (LTx) are more susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome-corona virus-2 (SARS-Cov-2) and suffer severer outcomes than healthy subjects. OBJECTIVE Here we aim to analyze whether it was appropriate to maintain lung transplant programs in medical institutions accepting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHODS Methods: the clinical characteristics, laboratory testing, and epidemiology survey results of 10 LTx recipients undergoing allograft lung transplantation surgeries in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during the COVID-19 pandemic were collected. A web-based epidemiology questionnaire was used to collect the information of LTx recipients after discharge. RESULTS A total of 10 LTx recipients were identified. The main cause of lung transplantation was idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (60%), with another rare case of cystic fibrosis. Comorbidities involved hyperlipidemia, subclinical hyperthyroidism, diabetes, viral hepatitis of type B. The average white blood cell (WBC) count and average lymphocyte count were 9.5±3.9×109 cells/liter and 1.7±1.1×109 cells/liter, respectively. 40% of the LTx recipients had lymphopenia. Impaired alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed in LTx recipients. Good habitats of hand hygiene (100%), wearing protective masks behaviors (100%), indoor ventilation behaviors (100%), indoor disinfection measures (83%), personal tableware (67%), separate room (100%), personal bedsheets/ quilts (100%) and drinking glasses (100%) were observed during the follow-up. None of the LTx recipients or their family members get infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the novel coronavirus pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Under the premise of taking appropriate preventive measures during hospitalization and after discharge, the lung transplant program can be maintained in the medical institution that accepts patients with COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.06.20147264


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Sano ◽  
Yohei Chiba ◽  
Sachiko Maeda ◽  
Chiharu Ikeda ◽  
Nobuyuki Handa ◽  
...  

Purpose This study examines the websites of central government ministries, prefectures and municipalities to obtain a comprehensive bird’s-eye view of how they are preparing for natural disasters in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the websites of central government ministries, prefectures and municipalities in Japan to survey the actual status of information dissemination on “evacuation and sheltering” in the context of COVID-19. Findings This study found that the central government issued many notices, notifications and administrative communications to prefectures, cities with public health centers and special wards, which were mainly related to opening, securing and operating evacuation centers and improving the environment. It was found that most prefectures disseminated information on both survival and living evacuation and did so from June onward, when the flood season was approaching. Among the municipalities, there were differences in information dissemination tendencies by prefecture, and it became clear that smaller municipalities were especially incapable of fully disseminating information via the Web. Research limitations/implications The data from the prefectures and municipalities surveyed in this study were collected from websites and do not necessarily represent the actual response to disaster-related evacuation in the context of COVID-19 in those areas. To clarify this evacuation, more detailed surveys are needed. Originality/value This study is unique because no research has been conducted on the response of Japanese administrative agencies to disaster-related evacuation in the context of COVID-19; the actual situation was analyzed in this study by examining central government ministries, prefectures and municipalities as administrative agencies and comparing their responses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krish Vasudev ◽  
Hersh Singh ◽  
August A. Neumann ◽  
William M Zhao ◽  
Lyle Dominic Pelayo Mondano

Background: The novel coronavirus and its effect on our society are unprecedented. Given the recent pandemic, numerous measures have been taken to protect our communities. We sought to understand our school community's knowledge and the measures that were taken by our school for our safety.Objective: Our objective was to describe the overall understanding and attitudes of 8–12th grade students from a single institution during the initial phase of the Wisconsin's Governor's stay-at-home order.Methods: A voluntary web-based survey was communicated to 8–12th grade students through their online school portal. Data were collected and analyzed using SurveyMonkey.Results: There was a 20.2% response rate. Answers regarding the coronavirus, spread, and response to the coronavirus pandemic showed a high level of understanding of the virus and the actions necessary to prevent its spread.Conclusion: Eight-twelfth grade students have a high level of understanding of the virus, its effects, and the safety measures implemented to protect society.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 4531-4544
Author(s):  
Sambit Prasad Kar ◽  
Nirmal Kumar Rout ◽  
Jonathan Joshi

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), identified within the Wuhan, Hubei Province of China in November 2019, needs distinct attention because of its fatal nature. The spreading of any infectious diseases is generally prevented by quarantine and containment or locking down of the populations in danger. Countries suffering from COVID-19 are declaring the country lockdown and restricting public movement. India also has declared full lockdown and restricted public movement to a large extent. Such drastic steps have a severe psychological impact on populations. Being locked up for weeks in a very confined space with the same group of individuals being depressed, nervous, and tired, which is further aggravating various domestic and interpersonal issues. A web-based survey was formed which supported a cross-sectional sampling method and collected data across different working-class population groups in India. The responders had a beginner level of knowledge about the COVID-19 infection and adequate knowledge about its preventive aspects was unknown. Results indicate that 13% of the respondents experienced severe anxiety, 11% moderate anxiety, and 28% are mildly anxious. The results suggest that governments should find effective ways to disseminate unbiased COVID-19 knowledge to reduce population insecurity and provide the best mental equipment to cope with the pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-157
Author(s):  
Kalianne L. Neumann ◽  
Susan L. Stansberry ◽  
Crystal L. Del Rosso ◽  
Stacey S. Welch ◽  
Toni A. Ivey

Moonshot is the redesign of NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS), which traditionally engaged Texas high school juniors in a 16-week online course for credit and an intense week-long onsite experience working in teams with experts at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC). Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), our challenge was to design, develop, and deliver an online virtual experience to replace the all-expenses-paid six-day residential summer experience at JSC where HAS participants traditionally work with like-minded peers and NASA experts on authentic design challenges.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janelle Page ◽  
Terri Meehan-Andrews ◽  
Nivan Weerakkody ◽  
Diane L. Hughes ◽  
Joseph A. Rathner

Evidence shows that factors contributing to success in physiology education for allied health students at universities include not only their high school achievement and background but also factors such as confidence with their teachers and quality of their learning experience, justifying intensive and continued survey of students’ perceptions of their learning experience. Here we report data covering a 3-yr period in a physiology subject that has been redesigned for blended and online presentation. Consistent with previous reports, we show that when we undertook a blended mode of delivery, students demonstrated better grades than traditional modes of teaching; however the absence of didactic teaching in this subject resulted in lower grades overall. Students have very strong positive attitudes to weekly quizzes (80% positive approval) but report ambivalent attitudes to online self-directed learning (61% negative perception), even though they had 2-h weekly facilitated workshops. Overwhelmingly, students who undertook the subject in a self-directed online learning mode requested more face-to-face-teaching (70% of comments). From these data, we suggest that there is a quantifiable benefit to didactic teaching in the blended teaching mode that is not reproduced in online self-directed learning, even when face-to-face guided inquiry-based learning is embedded in the subject.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moustafa M. Dawoud

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus started as an outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.The outbreak was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 12 March 2020. The virus is called SARS-CoV-2, and the virus-induced disease is called COVID-19. The infection spreads via droplets or direct contact with contaminated surfaces. Airborne transmission occurs during aerosol-generating procedures on patients. Many otologic procedures are considered AGPs and therefore require precautions to protect staff and patients and minimize transmission of the disease. Main body Outpatient otology activity has seen changes, including virtual clinics and limitation of face-to-face consultations, to ensure safety. Powered instrumentation should be avoided during surgical procedures unless necessary or replaced with other tools, and if performed, enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used. Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination is recommended for any patient with full PPE in place except for consultations done without examination. Systemic steroid administration for treating conditions such as Bell’s palsy and sudden sensorineural hearing loss should be discussed with both the patient and infectious diseases specialist to weigh risks against benefits. Triaging of patients and prioritization is unavoidable during the pandemic and even after due to the limitations of clinic and theater time. All emergency/urgent cases are considered potentially COVID-19 positive. For the semi-urgent and all elective cases, COVID-19 testing 48 h prior to surgery, strict quarantine awaiting test results, and repeat testing on day of surgery if rapid tests are available are the precautions suggested. Different measures should be in place to minimize staff potential exposure intraoperatively. Conclusions Otology practice has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Various measures are in place to ensure the delivery of safe and effective service for patients and health care workers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
Chit Oo Ko ◽  
◽  
Ye Tun ◽  
Naing Htet Lwin ◽  
Thazin Moe ◽  
...  

The study investigates and estimates the type and amount of recyclable waste collected by informal recycling shops in Nay Pyi Taw by using face to face interview for 23 informal recycling shops in Nay Pyi Taw in May 2020. The descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (two-sample paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation) were applied. According to the results, the average estimated waste amount collected by each recycling shop per day before and during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was 1,798 kg (Min. 0 to Max. 1,401 kg) and 856 kg (Min. 0 to Max. 892 kg), respectively. As a result of this study, it can be seen that the amount of daily collected waste has a positive relationship with the daily income of recycling shops, and COVID-19 has impacted the income of informal recycling shops. According to the results, getting an official license, financial problems, and limited land for managing buying recyclable waste, unstable market conditions, no factory in Nay Pyi Taw and no definitive legislation or laws, seasonal changes are the main challenges for informal recycling shops. This study indicates the ways to mainstream the informal sectors in waste management schemes. In addition, the results of this study can be useful in developing national and regional waste management plans and programs.


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