scholarly journals Together Apart during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Assessing Students’ Readiness for Online Assessments Using an E-Learning System

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenda H.E. Gay

Electronic learning (e-learning) is an indispensable management system that supports face-to-face, blended, or fully online courses. In January 2020, 258 students in a second-year management course at a regional university were evaluated on their preparedness for online lectures via e-learning. However, by mid-semester, the COVID-19 pandemic halted face-to-face teaching, pushed final assessments to an online modality, and forced some governments to quickly repatriate their students. This chapter evaluates students’ level of e-learning readiness (e-readiness) and whether it had any effect on their performance in the final assessment. The results show that six percent of the cohort had returned to their home country, six percent had no privacy to take their final online assessments, while 31% depended on Wi-Fi. However, although two-thirds of the cohort preferred the online modality, only a third had acceptable levels of e-readiness. E-ready students felt the disruption in their study routine most, while those who were not e-ready found more time to study after the curfew restrictions were in place. E-ready students attempted their final online assessment earlier than those who were not yet e-ready, but the two groups had similar assessment grades. Evaluating students’ level of e-readiness is vital in providing support for those who have challenges with online learning.

Author(s):  
Maximilian Riedel ◽  
Gabriel Eisenkolb ◽  
Niklas Amann ◽  
Anne Karge ◽  
Bastian Meyer ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic posed an eminent challenge for medical teachers worldwide. Face-to-face lectures and seminars were no longer possible, and alternatives had to be found. E-learning concepts quickly emerged as the only practicable solutions and also offered the opportunity to evaluate whether traditional face-to-face lectures could be translated into an online format, independent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We offered an e-learning program consisting of lecture notes, screencasts with audio narration, and online webinars that covered topics normally taught in traditional lectures and seminars. To evaluate the learning behavior and quality of our e-learning program, we drafted a questionnaire that students completed at the end of the 2020 summer semester that had been designed to enable a comparative analysis of the different e-learning modules. Results Voluntary participation in the online courses was high. Survey analysis revealed high satisfaction with and a distinctive preference for the format, even under regular, COVID-19-independent conditions. In general, a positive appraisal of e-learning—especially as a substitute for regular lectures—was found. Students also reported higher studying efficiency. Exam results were equal to those of previous semesters. Conclusion Both acceptance of and satisfaction with our e-learning modules were high, and students displayed increased demand for this kind of e-learning format. We, therefore, conclude that e-learning offerings could serve as reasonable, efficient, student-orientated substitutes for certain medical courses, especially lectures. These curricular adaptations would correlate with the high digitalization seen in students’ everyday lives. This correlation may also hold true independent of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Yuliana Prativi ◽  
Muhammad Zaenuri

Online learning is a learning via internet without meeting face-to-face between teachers and students. This online learning system is relatively new, therefore teachers and students should adapt quickly. This study aims to determine the online Arabic learning system during the COVID-19 pandemic at Madrasah Tsanawiyah Negeri (MTsN) 1 Surakarta. Researcher used a qualitative approach and observation, interview, and documentation as data collection techniques. The results described that e-learning madrasah was used as the main media for online Arabic learning at MTsN 1 Surakarta during the covid-19 pandemic, then assisted by Whatsapp and Youtube channel. The subject matter was presented in video, powerpoint, and pdf. The learning stages were divided into three: preparation, implementation (pre-activities, whilst-activities and post-activities), and evaluation stage. This online learning helps teachers to coordinate with and supervise students easily, on the other hand, it is difficult for them to monitor the students’ understanding and bad internet network make some students could not follow the learning process in time. 


Author(s):  
Indu Singh ◽  
Avinash Reddy Kundur ◽  
Yun-Mi Nguy

Recent advances in the field of digital technology have had a significant role in changing the concept of learning and teaching for both students and teachers. These developments have enabled educational systems to move from their traditional classroom-based teaching models to a more enhanced blended/e-learning approach including an array of electronic learning tools such as digital microscopy, electronic cell counter, 3D virtual reality, and demonstration videos. An integration of these digital tools along with contemporary face-to-face teaching can significantly improve student learning outcomes and provide convenient and flexible access to education and training. This model demonstrated a positive impact on laboratory-based courses such as Laboratory Medicine at Griffith University. The objective of this chapter is to highlight the impact and advantages of this particular model from the student- and teacher-based perspective. This chapter will also discuss some of the challenges of implementing this mode of teaching and provide future directions.


Author(s):  
Jose Luis Monroy Anton ◽  
Juan Vicente Izquierdo Soriano ◽  
Maria Isabel Asensio Martinez ◽  
Felix Buendia Garcia

The healthcare sector in the 21st century presents a big technological development. All fields of medicine are deepening their knowledge, which increases the volume of material that must be handled by professionals in each specialty. This large volume of material should be taken into account by health professionals, because it contributes to a better quality of care. The traditional way of teaching has been face-to-face classes; however, with rising technologies, virtual training via computers and virtual teachers are being implemented in some institutions. This change in the way of teaching also leads to changes in how to assess the knowledge gained through this method of learning. The aim of this chapter is to provide a small analysis of online training courses for health professionals, and deepen into an appraisal system developed to integrate different complementary variables, and how they can be implemented as a method addressed to assess online courses in a more comprehensive way.


Author(s):  
Indu Singh ◽  
Avinash Reddy Kundur ◽  
Yun-Mi Nguy

Recent advances in the field of digital technology have had a significant role in changing the concept of learning and teaching for both students and teachers. These developments have enabled educational systems to move from their traditional classroom based teaching models to a more enhanced blended/E-learning approach including an array of electronic learning tools such as digital microscopy, electronic cell counter, 3D-virtual reality and demonstration videos. An integration of these digital tools along with contemporary face to face teaching can significantly improve student learning outcomes and provide convenient and flexible access to education and training. This model demonstrated a positive impact on laboratory based courses such as Laboratory Medicine at Griffith University. The objective of this article is to highlight the impact and advantages of this particular model from the student and teacher based perspective. This article will also discuss some of the challenges of implementing this mode of teaching and provide future directions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-67
Author(s):  
Nana Yaw Asabere ◽  
Amevi Acakpovi ◽  
Wisdom Torgby ◽  
Jessica Yaa Aba Sackey ◽  
Sylvia Kwaikyi

Although in Accra Technical University (ATU), Ghana, there exists a traditional Face-to-Face (F2F) mode of education already in place, the implementation of electronic learning (e-learning) through ICT in education will increase the number of students admitted yearly. Lack of academic facilities makes e-learning an attractive alternative. Consequently, this article employed a questionnaire as a research instrument with reference to the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM-2) as a theoretical framework. In all, questionnaires were administered to 190 students and 14 lecturers in the Faculty of Applied Sciences in Accra Technical University (ATU). Based on the responses received, various types of e-learning systems were exploited and a SWOT (Strength Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats) analysis was conducted to validate the sustainability of proposing and developing a suitable e-learning system for ATU. It is envisaged that successful implementation of the e-learning system proposed in this article will practically increase the use of ICT in education by both lecturers and students in ATU.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willie Chinyamurindi ◽  
Herring Shava

Background: The use of electronic learning (e-learning) systems is gaining popularity especially within a Higher Education (HE) context. However, scholars have identified some factors that affect the utilisation and the acceptance of such systems, one of which is the gender divide, which favours mostly males ahead of females.Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the acceptance of the e-learning system within a South African HE setting, including the influential role of gender in the acceptance of such a system. Method: Quantitative data was collected through a cross-sectional survey using 113 registered final year students at a South African university who were making use of an e-learning system as part of their teaching delivery. The measuring instrument used was the technology acceptance instrument (TAI) and included measures of computer self-efficacy (CSE), perceived ease of use (PEU), perceived usefulness (PU), and behavioural intention to use (BIU). Results: The presence of a gender divide was found to exist in this study. Women’s ratings of the acceptance of e-learning systems were found to be slightly higher than those of the male respondents. In addition to this, elements of the TAI were found to be related to one another. Conclusion: The study concludes by arguing that lecturers and facilitators need to pay attention to usage patterns of e-learning systems as they affect how such systems are adopted by their students. Therefore, preceding student acceptance of electronic learning systems should be efforts to address any issues that affect the acceptance and effective utilisation of such systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Ahmad Abu-Al-Aish

During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the national lockdowns implemented in countries around the world, many universities worldwide made the transition from face-to-face delivery to online learning using e-learning systems. However, the successful transition from traditional class-based learning to online learning depends greatly on understanding the challenges related to the implementation and use of e-learning systems, as well as the technical and management factors that need to be enhanced. This study aimed to investigate the challenges related to the use of e-learning systems in Jordanian universities and to explore the technical and management aspects that impacted the successful implementation and use of e-learning systems during COVID-19. To achieve the study objectives, a questionnaire was developed by the researcher and distributed online to lecturers working at Jordanian universities. A total of 184 lecturers participated in the study. Based on the findings, the study provides recommendations which will help higher education policy makers, university management teams, and software developers build strategies to ensure the successful implementation and use of e-learning systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Fülöp ◽  
Gyula Nagy

Fortunately, the forced change to online education required by the pandemic situation did not caught the University of Szeged completely unprepared. Our institution has a long tradition of using electronic teaching materials in various projects and situations. One of the most important tool is the SZTE Repository of Educational Resources, operated by the Klebelsberg Library, which stores almost 4,500 electronic learning material and it has more than 1 million downloads. In the first part of our study, we show our experiences gained during the development and running of the database. In the second part, we would like to talk about the development of an online education platform (https://edu.ek.szte.hu). It has launched last year and we presented here our first e-learning course, ‘Introduction to library and information science’. This course was previously held-in-person by the library staff to hundreds of students per semester at the university as a general education course. Redesigning the course took several months. During this time, we had to face several technical and education-related issues and questions which gave us the experience and the necessary knowledge about the methods of switching from classroom teaching to online courses.


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