scholarly journals The Attitude of the Academic Community towards Distance Learning: A Lesson from a National Lockdown

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. pp262-281
Author(s):  
Marta Migocka-Patrzałek ◽  
Magda Dubińska-Magiera ◽  
Dawid Krysiński ◽  
Stefan Nowicki

The number of online courses conducted at universities has been growing steadily worldwide. The demand for this form of education has jumped sharply in the 2019/2020 academic year as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national lockdown. The following study uses the case of University of Wrocław and examines how this unprecedented situation would affect the attitude of members of the academic community toward distance learning. The examination, based on quantitative analysis of separated questionnaires distributed among teachers and students, reveals that the previous experience in distance learning strongly correlates with willingness to use it in the future, i.e. after fighting the coronavirus crisis. Thus, the research suggests that the implementation of distance learning may involve the need to put more emphasis on systematic and long-term actions. The results achieved in the study may contribute to improving the ways of implementing distance learning on a large scale in institutions dealing with higher education.  

2020 ◽  
Vol 1(16) (2020) ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
Oksana Yastrub ◽  
◽  
◽  

The problem of introducing distance learning in primary school is actualized by the development of social networks and Internet technologies, which open unlimited horizons for their application in educational activities. In addition, the introduction of quarantine in Ukraine requires primary school teachers to find ways to effectively master the program material. Among such ways is distance learning. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the specifics and possibilities of organizing the educational process in primary school with the use of distance learning. In the process of scientific research methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization and systematization were used. Distance learning in primary school is defined as a form of organization and implementation of the educational process, in which the subjects of learning (teachers and students) in the online mode carry out educational interaction in principle and mainly extraterritorially. In the context of reforming modern Ukrainian education, a number of e-platforms have been created for the organization of distance learning for primary school students. An effective commercial platform for distance learning is the service "My Class", which contains online courses from 1st to 11th grade, which contain lessons that integrate theoretical (test presentation of content) and practical (individual tasks that can be solved independently of each other, a block of tasks that need to be solved sequentially, guidelines) blocks. Result. Emphasis is placed on the requirements to be met by a primary school teacher when organizing distance learning in primary school during the quarantine period and it is suggested to advise parents who will work remotely with junior students in the initial stages of distance learning, gradually transferring activity to children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-97
Author(s):  
V. N. Kiroy ◽  
D. N. Sherbina ◽  
A. A. Chernova ◽  
E. G. Denisova ◽  
D. M. Lazurenko

In the context of the COVID pandemic, there has dramatically increased the significance of distance learning technologies. Higher education will most probably increase their usage even after overcoming the coronavirus. This paper aims at assessing Russian university students’ readiness to exercise distance learning technologies. The survey within Rostov-on-Don universities provided data on 428 students’ skills in using Internet technologies when studying. It is shown that in the pre-pandemic period, no more than a quarter of students had the necessary skills to participate in video conferences, and about 16 % of students took online courses autonomously. Only 6,5 % of the respondents could manage both technologies that comprise distance learning. The results obtained on the relationship between academic performance and self-participation in online courses, as well as on the relationship of these indicators with general digital literacy and immersion in social networks, should be taken into account within wide computerization of education during the pandemic.


Author(s):  
A. S. Adzhemov ◽  
A. B. Denisova ◽  
D. Zh. Satybaldina ◽  
Sh. Zh. Seilov

The last decade has been marked by large-scale and rapid changes in education, taking place on the basis of modern infocommunication and digital technologies, new hardware and software, as well as teaching methods updated in accordance with this. The limited mobility of citizens due to the coronavirus pandemic further intensified these processes, when, even with a low readiness of educational institutions to switch to distance (electronic, remote) technologies, teachers and students had to quickly master these technologies and use them in practice. The resulting experience allows us to identify not only problematic, sometimes even negative, features of distance learning, but also to make sure of the undoubted advantages of these technologies. The article points out the need for a systematic analysis when deciding on the use of e-learning, taking into account both technical and methodological, as well as personnel readiness for the implementation of this technology.The article analyzes these problems using the example of teaching both technical and humanitarian disciplines. The experience of distance work is analyzed on the example of cooperation between the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (Russia) and the L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Kazakhstan), which in its practical activities purposefully invites foreign professors to deliver lectures, guide undergraduates, etc., including those based on distance technology. The data of an anonymous questionnaire survey of students of these universities are given, allowing to assess the effectiveness of the decisions made, as well as to clarify the existing problems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-298
Author(s):  
Valentina N. EDRONOVA

Subject. In the context of digital transformation of the society, online courses, as a form of basic and additional education in universities, play a crucial role. Objectives. I consider the types and content of online courses used by universities for distance education, analyze the perception of the new forms of educational process by teachers and students, and positive and negative aspects of distance learning in 2020. Methods. The study employs statistical methods of data collection, generalization of basic statistics, analysis of obtained results and materials that are published in scientific publications and mass media, best practices for remote learning. Results. The paper provides consolidated assessment of positive and negative aspects of remote regime of the traditional form of education, the participation of universities in programs for online mass education, the demand for and directions of supplementary education in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, State support to digital transformation of universities in 2020. Conclusions. At the current stage of digital transformation of education, universities use different options to implement distance learning. Online courses, being the main form of modern university education, are developing and improving rapidly. They play an important role in the system of training specialists for the national economy and individual development.


Author(s):  
Kelley Walters ◽  
Melanie Shaw ◽  
David Long

Drawing on current literature and a survey of online students and instructors from online institutions, the researchers explored the different types of assignments and assessments required for completion of online courses, the Learning Management Systems utilized, and differences between undergraduate and graduate tasks assigned, according to field of study. While there is a significant amount of available research on instructional efficacy in online classes, there are few studies that account for the types of course activities students must complete in distance learning courses. This study details the variety of online assessments and activities assigned to students attending institutions of higher education that are either fully online or utilizing a blended learning format. Recommendations are made for diverse instructional tasks, which can be assigned based on available technology and curricular flexibility. Key terms used in the study are defined at the end of this chapter.


Author(s):  
Steven W. Schmidt

The expansion of distance education programs has allowed institutions of higher education to be successful in their collective mission to make educational programs more accessible to adults who normally would not have that access. Indeed, online learning has brought education to the people. Access to school is now as simple as logging on to the Internet in the privacy of one’s own home. Who are these students taking courses online? Why are they in online courses versus traditional classrooms? What is different about them, about their situations, and their expectations? Why are some online learners successful and others not? Why do some online learners continue to work through programs while others drop out? For online learning programs to be successful in the long term, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the online learner. This chapter examines the adult online learner in higher education.


Author(s):  
Harsh Vardhan Pant ◽  
Manoj Chandra Lohani ◽  
Jeetendra Pande

Online education has gained a lot of acceptance among the learners in the recent past. The advances in technology and changing demand from students and business as well as the possibility for reducing costs and generating income has led to a MOOC explosion. Over the last years, massive open online courses (MOOCs) have received a great deal of attention from the academic community, business, and the media, especially after the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020. The pandemic has caused educational disruption across the globe. Educational institutes faced with the challenge of maintaining the continuity of learning and were almost forced to switch to the online mode. The seemingly simple and immediate solution is to conduct school remotely using online resources. The aim of this study is to investigate the current trends and prediction with respect to the adoption of MOOCs in the Indian higher education system and identify various influencing factors facilitating this adoption.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Borges

The aim of this study consisted in assessing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours concerning various aspects of sustainable development in a group of Portuguese university students and measure the influence of area of study for admission to higher education on this dimensions. The collection of data was undertaken via the completion of a questionnaire, which was designed to include the following dimensions: knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. This initiative took place in the 2016/2017 academic year and the focus/target group for was constituted by 168 prospective elementary teachers. The validation procedures of the questionnaire confirmed its three-dimensional structure. The results obtained showed the existence of very favourable knowledge and attitudes regarding sustainable development. Behaviours proved less favourable than the other two dimensions. In addition, the results show that respondents’ area of study for admission to higher education has no influence regarding knowledge, attitudes and behaviours concerning sustainable development. Finally some implications for teachers and students are raised and discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 12-29
Author(s):  
Richard McInnes ◽  
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Claire Aitchison ◽  
Brigitte Sloot ◽  
◽  
...  

Universities everywhere are rushing to upgrade their digital learning capabilities — and, more so now, in response to COVID-19. Long term, large-scale development of online courses requires investment in digital infrastructures and collaborative curriculum design involving educational, technical, and subjectmatter experts. However, compared to the resources invested in course development, there is relatively little investment in researching such development processes. Drawing on findings from a study of a strategic initiative to rapidly develop 12 fully online undergraduate degree programs in one Australian university, this paper reports on a study that aimed to capture the experiences of academic course writers. Findings show broad satisfaction with the production processes, courses created, and knowledge acquired - although also demonstrating key differences between senior, junior and casualised staff. This empirical case study contributes to knowledge about capacity building arising from large-scale, in-house development of fully online degree programs.


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