Dear Dr.Muthana,we all are suffering from the same problem,e-learning is so contemporaneous accordingly sts face a crucial problem in using,being in contact,or even achieving their weekly assignment.I used Telegram with my M.A.students as their number is limited and few,whereas with the undergraduate sts I am using google classroom.

Depending on your class size, you can consider using Zoom to have a video conference with your class.

Other than that, you could record your lectures like what Farnaz suggested and use Zoom or Google classroom for discussions.

I wouldn't think Telegram is a suitable avenue for teaching, but perhaps can be used to disseminate information or updates to the students.

My university has its own platform based on Moodle and I have been using that for two weeks. The video conference mode is reliable and I"ve had as many as 30 students at the same time in class. Discussions were carried out hitchlessly and everybody was satisfied. Beside that, materials can be uplowded on this platform for further reference and students can access them at any given time. Of course, there have been small interruptions at times during this past two weeks due to internet issues, but it was nothing that could not be overcome smoothly.

Other than that, old-school colleagues may still rely on e-mail transfer of materials or on phone apps such as WhatsApp to keep in touch with their students.

Thanks, @Eman R. Adeeb. I'm running a huge class and it's getting even bigger. The university has required us to provide data that is very hard to collect manually about the participating students. I don't think that Telegram has such facilities like scheduling a lecture for a certain time, sending auto-reminders of assignments's due dates, quick access to students scores and so on.

In the case of a small class, like the one you used to have, it would be much easier.

Dear Farnaz, Thanks. Though video lecturing is demanding, it is a better choice that reduces sight stress. I'm trying audio recording. This way students can download the lecture and pass it on via whatever platforms they use. However, a platform like Google Classroom is still maintained for discussion and quiz purposes.

Aik, I totally agree. Thanks.

All of us face the same problems but the key factor as I think is to work on how to motivate students to be active.

Liqa: Very true. It, however, takes patience and teachers need to show empathy with the students and understanding of the stress they face. Also remember the resistance that accompanies any new practice especially in our setting, the last demonstrations .....etc. our story is more complicated than elsewhere, isn't it?

Anca: thanks. Every university should have its own distance learning platform in our modern world. However, my setting has been resistant to the idea of distance learning until Covid-19 hit. You have mentioned Moodle which is a great platform but which at the same time requires technical training the students are rarely ready to take. We haven't been prepared. Hope to learn the lesson.

It would be quite good if you would record your audio lesson and send to your students. It would be feasible for students that they could listen to your audio lesson easily at their homes.

Thanks, Sumaira. That's what I'm doing right now. I share my audio lecture on Google Classroom and students can even circulate them via their own informal groups and channels.

Audio recording may be excellent approach for teaching English, but in my case, I teach Math, video lectures are more appropriate...

I'd recommend sticking with Google Classroom. There will be a learning curve for whichever platform you use, and your students (and you!) have already started learning how to use Google Classroom. Also, Google Classroom is relatively intuitive compared to some alternative platforms.

Here are some resources on using Google Classroom and other Google for Education tools: https://edtech.muicpc.io/home

I'd also recommend preparing for and taking the Google Certified Educator Level 1 test: https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/certification_level1

I hope this helps! Many of us are in the same situation --- scrambling to transition to online learning and teaching. Good luck!

Alexander Nanni , many thanks, indeed.

My school adopted Canvas as its learning management system last year (replacing Sakai). Many of our students used it in high school, so they already have orientation to the system, and it is fairly easy for new users to learn. It is more complex for teachers who are new to using it because there are many behind-the-scenes tips and tricks to learn.

Certainly do not make a change in the middle of the semester!! Complete the semester with what you are using now and learn for future application.

Thanks, Michael W. Marek , for the tip. I totally agree. I was fortunate to have had training on Canvas, Whiteboard, Moodle, Nicenet, and now I'm having an on the spot experience with Google Classroom. These were self sought workshops some of which were in the US. Unfortunately, my setting is offering next to zero training for teachers and students on CALL. I hope the lesson will be learned! Thank you again.

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Thanks, Anton Vrdoljak , for sharing this.

You can use zoom platform very easy to use

Hello,I don't actually use telegram.I find Google classroom more effective.I teach poetry . Sometimes i send my students audio files and some other times i send PowerPoint with audio comments.My students find the PowerPoint presentation more effective especially when enriched with videos to illuminate it would render a profound effect.

Thanks, Nadia Albayati . I;m doing the same. Google Classroom is designed for this purpose. Telegram does not meet teachers' needs for metadata of students activities which are required by employers, like scores and participation rate. Students don't care that it doesn't, though, and they persist asking for a shift to Telegram.

This is exactly the case with the majority of our students.Unfortunately!

All: In my private GMail account I noticed new features regarding Google Meet. In other words, Google allowed to all users to start or join some meeting, and all that it is completely free...

@Lionel, thank you very much for your notes about Telegram. I would like to add that after trying Google Classroom for months I found bugs in the software that caused some debate among students and teachers about how reliable G. C. is in distance learning. This includes the grading system or the software.

I think you will need both of them for different cases

Bela, thanks. In a setting that has not been prepared for using technology in teaching, the multiplicity of applications used is overwhelming. Now we have Google Classroom, Telegram and sometimes Facebook for students, add to these Viber, Whatsapp, and Zoom (Google Meet sometimes) for staff communication and meetings. Obviously, all these are free applications. This is what you get when the academic institution refrains from investing in quality, paid for applications in which you find everything in one station.

Unless your institution is ready to invest in a quality platform difficulties will continue. Thanks to free apps such as zoom, Cisco WebEx, telegram and others which are in carrying out a reasonably acceptable experience in most times.

Yes, we owe them a lot, Dr. Al-Emara.

I myself do not, but all my colleagues claim it is a very useful tool for distance learning. I prefer google classroom as the only way of communication with my students because our students up to this moment are not responsible enough to manage two ways of communication (e.g. Telegram and Google classroom). To receive instructions and scientific material from both different channels, they need more time. Moreover, I find it easier for me to unify the source of giving material and instructions, especially when you teach three topics in three different departments.

I use them both (also as a suggestion of my students). For me Telegram is easier for uploading material and sharing voice messages in addition to discussion chats. However, classroom is also needed for posting the material, setting exam dates, as well as uploading reports or assignments by students.