Because of the corona virus epidemic, the administration of higher education decides that all universities in Jordan need to convert fully to online education if the country announces the quarantine. The issues here is what the challenges and disadvantage that will phase universities it employee and professors and students during the converting process and after we return to the traditional way of education.
I agree to Anders Norberg statement.
Having the opportunity to make changes to the medical curricula in over seven universities in five different countries, I faced such a rush. However, I always advise that we could do it because of my experience in managing things. Yet, the preparation of staff and students and the college needs time, and you cannot ignore the importance of development, responding to questions, involving and sharing, and giving time for thinking, piloting, and adjusting. I also understand that some cultures used to do things in rushing way, and this is their way in most things they do. Therefore, they do not believe in giving time for preparation, but definitely, there are costs for rushing.
Hi!
Avoid to just throw educational readings and tasks into a learning management system and hope for something to happen. Education and content are not the same thing.
Make a time blend. Your teachers will be very familiar with this kind of pedagogical process-This is what teachers traditionally do - now they also have new tools for doing it.
Shift A) synchronous meetings with teacher and peers ...with B) asynchronous student work, but both online this time. Online synchronous meetings can be lectures, but preferably introductions, instructions, Q&A sessions, discussions, etc in tools as Skype, Zoom, Adobe connect or completely free tools as FreeConferenceCall.com or just an online chat or twitter. Mix this with asynchronous teaching/learning material on an LMS as recorded lectures, links to lectures or teaching materials, just chapters in course books to be read and tasks done before next synchronous meeting. Or give as a task that the students discuss a problem x which came up in the synchronous session in an online forum where all have to give their opinion. Much better than a classroom discussion.
The trick is to let the synchronous session start, introduce and motivate the asynchronous work to be done before next synchronous meeting and the synchronous meeting then follow up, check, discuss, apply knowledge - and introduce next asynchronous tasks. The pedagogical course drama.
To force students to prepare, just tell them that the have to read assigned texts and answer 3 questions and send to teacher before next synchronous session, as their ”ticket” to the synchronous meeting. These wuestions can be easy and standard each time: how does this connect to my earlier experience and knowledge? Dies this raise any questions? What did I find extra interesting or difficult? Then the teacher only has to check a few snswers as preparation for the synchronous session, but students have to read and send in answers in advance.
If interested in this time-blend model, see attached articles.
Article A time based blended learning model
Article Time Shifting and Agile Time Boxes in Course Design
The situation with me is similar to that of Corona, suddenly I need to teach them at home. I will send them some assignments plus some readings to comprehend. I will think of sending test questions to answer as well. I anticipate a great success, despite the subject is so technical, and the sudden situation. Really I am afraid to be throwing educational readings and tasks into a learning management system as mentioned above by Anders Norberg
Hi Mahmoud H Onsa ! I suppose or guess that your situation in Sudan is dependent on armed conflict and/or other insecurities around that that also prevents you from using even classrooms? Well, in such light - what we consider and discuss as problems here are quite tiny. Your attempts to keep up some kind of teaching and mentoring anyway is admireable. I have not much of advice, but you seem to do what you can. A lot, lot better than nothing, I am sure.
Dear Samy Azer ! It is self-evident that having preparation time and a budget for implementing a change is better than having to deal with a change because of a sudden disruption on society ( such as a pandemy or a civil war). However, it is the second scenario that is here being discussed. What if there suddenly for a time becomes impossible to meet more than a couple of people, but public processes in society, such as education must, if possibly, continue?
I agree to Anders Norberg statement.
Having the opportunity to make changes to the medical curricula in over seven universities in five different countries, I faced such a rush. However, I always advise that we could do it because of my experience in managing things. Yet, the preparation of staff and students and the college needs time, and you cannot ignore the importance of development, responding to questions, involving and sharing, and giving time for thinking, piloting, and adjusting. I also understand that some cultures used to do things in rushing way, and this is their way in most things they do. Therefore, they do not believe in giving time for preparation, but definitely, there are costs for rushing.
Money can buy the equipment and expand the network and pay for the software. However, the big problem with conversion is resistance to change, especially with older staff. Prototyping and debugging is essential and normally takes place over years of cohorts. However the loss of a full term or two cannot be sanctioned, and the emergency may help to overcome the normal resistance to change. A plan for quick action would scan all lecturers' slides, post them on the university website, with the syllabus hot-linked to the lectures and exercises. The biggest threat to integrity is students' work and tests being ghost written.
I agree with Samy Azer that we need time to prepare all the staff needed for online education. In all cases, we have no choice, we should adapt with the temporary situation.
The idea of sudden change would caused disruption in most of the aspect and factor. Therefore the learning management system is acquired for online system for both parties especially for rural and remote area student to ensure the internet infrastructure is partially supported. Moderate financial support including the online support skills which should be in face to face traditional delivery is to ensure both student and lecturer or teacher are well prepared before the system go live.
A very good question. But, I don't personally recommend a sudden change from one modality to the other. It should be backed by evidence regarding the need for change from the conventional to online courses. In addition, we should allocate a reasonable time for preparation for online course delivery.
Dear, Solomon Mengistie the minister of higher education in Jordan announce that if the prime minister apply quarantine plan that it is a mandatory to teach university students with online approaches. knowing that it is a sudden change from traditional education to online education is a headache to it employee and teacher specially to older teachers. Due to the current situation we required as an educational community to provide such a conversion move with as much efficiency and effectiveness.
best regards.
I notice that there is little or no literature on "sudden change management". Nevertheless, the situation is like an impending takeover, threat of bankruptcy or major retrenchment effort. You will undoubtedly loose a major base of knowledge and expertise that is irreplaceable as academic and support staff leave in frustration.
Rather than seeing this situation as a drawback, I think in the long run it will strengthen your institution. Once you delve into fully online modality, I am sure faculty members will develop invaluable skills that, once you go back to the traditional face-to-face classes, will enhance the learning experience of the students. It is a big challenge as of now, but my advice would be to look for experienced instructors (those who already use technology intensively) as role models and to lead the others who may have less experience in this modality.
Hi. If the institution already possess experience in running online programmes that could be added advantage to cope up with sudden change. The staffs those who are involved in conducting the online classes can help the other staffs to cope up with the change. It requires preparation and communication from both the instructors and students side to get in touch of online lecture materials, tests, assignments and follow up. Thanks.
In regards to the above question- one has to focus on the losses, on the negative side- on the impact of the loss of face to face interaction, the loss of person to person support, mentoring, caring and the lack of demonstration of passion- there is no way that the reader of this can understand my passion for dynamic, interactive teaching and learning- I can CAPITALIZE all I want- but to hear an energetic dynamic enthusiastic professor lecture about an important topic- cannot be done online unless on uses Media Site or SKYPE or ZOOM- and even then it is not quite the same as a face to face discussion.
for some thoughts...
Tabatabaei, M., & Gardiner, A. (2012). Recruiters' perceptions of information systems graduates with traditional and online education. Journal of Information Systems Education, 23(2), 133.
Yerby, J., & Floyd, K. (2013). An investigation of traditional education vs. Fully-online education in information technology.
Andone, D., Mihaescu, V., Ternauciuc, A., & Vasiu, R. (2015). Integrating MOOCs in traditional higher education. Proceedings of the Third European MOOCs Stakeholder Summit, 71-75.
Sibirskaya, E., Popkova, E., Oveshnikova, L., & Tarasova, I. (2019). Remote education vs traditional education based on effectiveness at the micro level and its connection to the level of development of macro-economic systems. International Journal of Educational Management.
Cummings, S. M., Chaffin, K. M., & Cockerham, C. (2015). Comparative analysis of an online and a traditional MSW program: Educational outcomes. Journal of Social Work Education, 51(1), 109-120.
On-line teaching has the advantage of "always being available", "with immediate individual feedback". These positive aspects can wipe out any negatives of on-line learning.
Traditional system of education though is obsolete is so preferred to online system for some obvious reasons.
In third world countries the use of computer is recent that students are not yet perfect in answering questions online.A case in point is that some are experiencing for the first time in their career paths in higher school for the first time,compare to Students from technologically advanced countries that pupils learn to use at the of age of five.
Prevailing economic situations in developing countries makes it to difficult for parents to afford ,let alone using it by their wards.
In developing countries,educational curriculum never had the use of computer,even if it does,it taught in abstract.
Teachers in traditional education were not prepared for it.
Unfortunately inconsistency in government policies hinders the progress of use of computers and affordability.
Therefore,traditional system of education to an extent is better compared to online especially in all developing countries.
However,the use of online is better in countries that are technologically advanced,have consistent policies and curriculum designed to
incalcate use of computers in even primary schools.
Undoubtedly,online is better because all the variables are considered users are already prepared for it and has all it takes to accept the program
It is an opportunity to develop new teaching and learning materials and methods. Students are qualified to interact with technology, it remains to be seen if the teachers (we) are
The Quality assurance Unit should have taken care of this depending on the Policies and procedures. Please find a checklist here under also for Power Point quality when delivering online. Supported by:
https://globalconnect.academy
Thank you for asking. E-learning is necessary at the present time and difficulties can be overcome
Online education has now become mandatory, not a matter of choice. We need to adopt quickly despite the huge challenges. Identify the best channels your students are familiar with, provide lessons and assignments in an organised manner, introduce a follow up system to see how the platform works and learn from your mistakes along the way.
And make sure to ask for more money- since you will be working harder and longer and dealing with more stress.
In Initial phase one can find difficulty (who don't have a habit of reading online or any e-media much) but with time it will change. You can take help from various channels on You tube where effective way of study online has shared and various other factors which we can enhance to make it more effective has also shared.
Good Luck!!!!
Mohammad, this is an interesting question that is being faced by primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions worldwide. At present, one of the biggest challenges faced by these institutions is the swift shift from the traditional face-to-face delivery method to online delivery. Added to this is the challenge of having the appropriate and adequate technology and skills sets to be able to do so effectively. Post-COVID-19 the challenges would revolve around trying to maintain an online delivery whilst, at the same time, reinventing face-to-face delivery with the anticipation that the pandemic might occur again. Interesting.
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