Factors of the Use of E-learning during COVID-19 Lockdown among the College Students of Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: COVID-19 Pandemic had affected all sectors of human life around the globe. Education is one of them where traditional method of teaching had to be shift to virtual learning all of sudden in both developed and developing countries. Therefore, the article reflects the associated factors of E-learning among college students of Nepal during emergency shift of teaching paradigm due to COVID -19. Methodology: Convenient sampling method through social media and Google form was used to collect 385 data from college students of Nepal during COVID-19 lockdown. Results: The result showed that only 30% of the Nepalese students had all the required resources all the time for the use of E-learning however, 85% of the student had engaged in in E-learning during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The study found that gender, marital status, training on the use of E-learning, experience of E-learning prior to pandemic were statistically significant with the future use of E-learning. Conclusions: Educational institutions need be responsive towards the challenges faced by students during E learning, so that learning needs of the students will be fulfilled even in pandemic situation.

MODERN APPROACHES TO TEACHING TELECOMMUNICATIONS DISCIPLINES

Background. The directions and methods of training telecommunications personnel are constantly evolving in accordance with the growing volume of information exchange in society. Telecommunications as a display of the means and methods of information transmission have come a long way from purely radio engineering systems to heterogeneous systems with a complex network infrastructure and intelligent methods of information processing. Accordingly, the approaches to the training of telecommunications personnel are also changing. If in the early 80s preference in training was given to radio technologies, now it is network and software technologies. Objective. The purpose of this work is to present the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of the educational process in standard and mixed modes, structuring subjects in accordance with the requirements of the modern labor market. Methods. The unpredictable deep essence and uncertainty of the information space of the professions for which higher education prepares students today leads to a change in the teaching paradigm. Methods and structuring of building the learning process with obtaining the maximum effect of the student's readiness for their practical activities are investigated. Results. Possible ways of implementation of new requirements for personnel training for the new paradigm of the unified industry "Information Technologies and Telecom" are presented; the main directions of the formation of the general structure of training of telecommunications personnel on the example of the educational program "Engineering and programming of infocommunications"; recommendations for the organization of the educational process in full-time and remote modes. It is shown that with the correct organization of the educational process, blended learning can improve the quality of learning, especially in the context of reducing the hours of "classroom lessons" by transferring part of the educational process to the online environment. Conclusions. University graduates constitute the potential foundation of today's specialist market. Nevertheless, the problem of their professional adaptation, at the moment, remains relevant. Therefore, the paper proposes to solve this problem using the presented multilateral approach.

“From the Initial Steps to the Concept of Online Education” – Teacher Experiences and Development Directions Based on Feedback from Online Education Introduced During the Pandemic

The pandemic situation caused by COVID-19 has challenged the education system, not only in Hungary, but everywhere in the world. The use of information and communication technology in education, including higher education, has transformed students' expectations and, at the same time, redefined the role of the online educator. This is because online teaching and learning is significantly different from teaching-learning in a traditional environment, and educators need to rethink their role in the learning and teaching paradigm. Our higher education institution has developed a new learning-teaching concept based on the experience of distance education introduced as a result of the pandemic situation. The research described in the study and the corresponding developments are shared as good practice for other higher education institutions.

The e-portfolio in higher education: The case of a line of teaching innovation and complex change management

This work proposes a line of innovation to implement possible uses for the e-portfolio in higher education. We present an initial framework for analysis with attention to three main arguments: the validity of the interest of the e-portfolio for higher education in light of the current challenges posed by the knowledge society; the relevance of complex change management within organisations such as universities; and the identification of critical elements in the relevant literature concerning experiences similar to the case analysed here. The milestones for the line of innovation include six projects and three teacher training courses. Once data had been gathered in the respective assessment phases for each milestone by means of document analysis techniques (e-portfolios, teaching materials, usage statistics), questionnaires, discussion groups, in-depth interviews, and self-assessments (responsible academics, teachers, and students), a global analysis of the whole line was conducted from a complex approach to the problems of teaching change and innovation. A technological, political and cultural reading of innovation reveals emerging problems to reconsider: the attainment of deep learning; the standardisation of academic tutoring; the formation of learning and practice communities; the reconceptualisation of the e-portfolio as a personal learning environment; and the transformation of the university institution as a learning organisation. The premature condition of higher education to deal with the change in the teaching paradigm and the urgency to revisit its innovation policies to overcome it stand out among the critical conclusions of this study. Received: 27 April 2021Accepted: 27 October 2021

Effectiveness of Technology Based Online Teaching Pedagogy During Covid-19

This study aims to find out the effectiveness of technology based online teaching paradigm. The recent unprecedented outbreak of coronavirus did really narrate the harsh realities of life that human beings should adapt to. One among them was the need to adapt to techno-savvy accomplishments. With the outbreak of this epidemic, there has been significant surge in the usage of all digital platforms like language apps, virtual tutorials, video conferencing tools and online learning software’s. All schools are shut and nearly 1.2 billion children are forced to adapt to this harsh reality of online digital platform. Some believe that this online platform would develop a new hybrid model of education with some significant technological benefits, while some others pose the challenges involved in going digitalized. However the students are the ultimate victims who are going to face the consequences of online teaching pedagogy, be it favorable or unfavorable. Thus this study aims to find out the acceptance and effectiveness of online teaching from the part of students. The reflections and viewpoints of students are analyzed to find out the level of confidence and acceptance with regard to large scale online teaching. The test results prove that an established and completed system of IT infrastructure and internet connectivity for all students could pave a way for continuous online learning in the coming years.

Global Englishes Constructs in Language Teaching: A Review of Facebook Materials

The rising paradigm of Global Englishes (GE) was faced with native-speaker norms and the principle of diversity therein called upon global contents when there was the paucity of globally-oriented language materials and typical models hardly meet the future demands of language learners in Pakistan. At the state-level, many varities of Englishes were not on the priority list of legislation. In this scenario, this study was a systematic review of Global Englishes constructs operating in facebook materials. Twenty-five Facebook posts of different Englishes were selected opting judgmental sampling and axial coding was affixed to analyze thematic patterns in data. Findings evinced the function of GE constructs coalesced in facebook material, and this bonding directed to shape comparative cultural topics for GE instruction which was a joint venture limelighting the deep concerns of L2 speakers assailing L1 cultural, social, and economic hegemony Global Englishes-informed instruction was a useful approach to develop linguistic proficiency of students, and facebook materials were a good source to plan diverse Englishes and their constructs for prospective students in Pakistan. American English, British English, New Zealand English, Pakistani English, Thai English, and Indian English were dissected in a review of facebook materials that could be integrated with language teaching. The study was useful in developing an insight into GE constructs to be a source of cross-cultural knowledge helping to nurture multilingual speakers. The synthesis suggested an action plan for Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in line with inclusivity of GE as a teaching paradigm.

Google Classroom as a Tool of Support for Flexible Learning in the New Normal

The global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic affected all areas of life significantly paving the way to the new normal set-up. In response, the higher education system in the Philippines opted to implement flexible learning as its delivery model. Flexible learning unlocked critical areas in redesigning the pre-pandemic learning and teaching paradigm, one of which is the deployment of learning management systems or online platforms to contribute to the effective implementation of flexible learning. The present study attempts to explore Google Classroom’s potentials and acceptability as a tool of support to flexible language learning and teaching. A survey questionnaire was given to a group of 44 university students who completed the Purposive Communication course. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) analysis of data, the findings revealed that the majority of the students agreed that Google Classroom could provide accessibility, utility, and students’ satisfaction. Similarly, students agreed it could support communication and interaction and instruction delivery in flexible learning. Further, a qualitative-inductive approach using thematic analysis of the open-ended question in the survey questionnaire revealed that Google Classroom supports flexible language learning through the following: (a) easy monitoring of tasks, assignments, projects, and announcements; (b) excellent storage of learning materials (ex. backup files); (c) motivates students to manage time; and (d) motivates students to perform well. Therefore, it occurs that Google Classroom, as an educational interactive tool, has the potential to contribute to the effective delivery of flexible language teaching and learning, provided that responsive and timely faculty guidance is in place.

Application of Learner-Centered Approach in College English Instruction in China: A Case Study

With a development history of more than half a century, the learner-centered approach has become a new teaching paradigm worldwide. The approach can produce effective and significant learning focusing on learners’ development, learning, and learning outcomes. This study aimed to determine how a learner-centered approach can increase students’ engagement, improve their English learning strategies, and enhance their academic performance in a specific EFL setting. Bloom’s taxonomy, Zhao’s “Neo Tri-Centers,” Krashen’s L2 acquisition theory, and primarily Biggs’ constructive alignment functioned as valuable guidelines when designing the instructional activities. Constructive alignment holds that intended learning outcomes, teaching and learning activities, and assessment tasks should be aligned organically to achieve effective learning. Data collected through the instructor’s observations, questionnaires, assessments of the students’ performances, and colleague’s feedback show that the learner-centered approach has remarkably motivated the students, improved their learning strategies, and enhanced their academic performance. The results and implications of this study may be of reference importance for future language teaching in a foreign language or second language setting. 

Challenges of E-Learning During Covid-19 Pandemic: An Experience Of Educators And Students Of Faculty Of Medicine And Defence Health (FMDH), National Defence University Of Malaysia (NDUM)

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the medical teaching paradigm worldwide. Online classes and assessments have been introduced using many teaching platforms. Medical faculties in Malaysia faced many challenges in the past two years when most clinical teachings were halted. Students were also struggling to adapt to the new online learning versus traditional classroom settings. This paper describes the experience of educators of the faculty of medicine of NDUM. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(5) 2021 p.175-177

Frameworks of Intercultural Language Teaching: A Review

This article mainly summarizes the important achievements of domestic intercultural teaching research from the perspective of intercultural competence and teaching and finds that the research of intercultural teaching has gradually shifted from being teacher-centred to learner-centred, focusing on the influence factors of intercultural teaching intervention by different methods and students' intercultural and the improvement of communicative competence, and the teaching paradigm. However, the application background of existing research has certain limitations, and insufficient attention has been paid to learners' own differences. Future research can further research on specific level one or all level students explore ways and methods to effectively improve the intercultural knowledge and abilities of second language learners, and further, promote the optimization of intercultural knowledge acquisition and implement and teaching theories.