In these pandemic conditions is what you recommend distance learning digital platforms (E-learning) or you are for the resumption of courses in classes and universities ?
Distant learning has no alternative in the present condition of the pandemic but gradual planning and execution are needed for physical classroom teaching. The recent CDC guidelines are quite useful: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html
I recommend digital platforms regardless of the pandemic. And even it is necessary to return to classes in schools and universities with the accumulated experience of distance learning and continue to develop it there.
I recommend Canvas Platform. There is also free cloude based free platform for educators. The LMS is fully integrated with open source BBB video conference tool.
We can see digital platforms as the basis of education processes, and when and how face-to-face meetings can be included, it is possible. This is advantageous - the belief that the series of meetings face-to-face in a classroom is the core of a course is anyway outdated.
Why not see course design by use of ICTs a continuum that can be adapted to needs from circumstances, participants, etc. Skip the worries about total sudden disruption that comes with expressions as ”e-learning”, ”online learning”, etc. The learning work for the student is the same basically.
This is so easy if you see a course as a social teaching/learning process where synchronous events and asynchronous events shift in a designed pattern. Nothing really new, what is new is all new ways to design coirses for including non-traditional students.
Synchronous events can be classroom meetings, or video conferences, desktop conferences, audio talks etc. Asynchronous events can book reading, doing assignments, but also watching recorded videos and work with online tutorials and simulations and forums to discuss with peers. Observe that I here do not have to make any analogue/digital distinction. What the new digital ICTs do is to provide choiches to include people even with modified time and place conditions. This is done by reduced information friction, a process humanity has been in since the invention of writing.
However, the big historically new thing with digital ICTs is not reduction of information friction. It is information processing besides biological brains by help of learning analytics and adaptive learning. It is just beginning to happen, so watch it!
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In my opinion, face-to-face learning is irreplaceable. However, virtual platforms were already a great support before the pandemic and now, they have become an essential resource in Higher Education. I believe that most universities are going to better adapt their platforms and virtual environments to give them greater use during the 2020/2021 academic year that awaits us.
Distance learning development will be a major milestone in education system especially where there is good net work connectivity. It is cheaper than fàce to face. In the third country like my Country it is a big challenge due to poverty level. The students cannot afford an Android system and access to internet. In my University we started distance leàrning last week but the turn out is very low. In such cases face to face is the only way. Then slowly introduce blended learning and finally develop distance learning which will solve many problems of education systems in my country.
Virtual learning should be embraced by all,we are in the 21st century mind you.I am comfortably learning at the comfort of my home,no travelling fatigue and so much time is lost moving up and down which I now use to relax.
In my opinion, we have before, and after CV19.
It is not any cure and vacuum yet
So, virtual is the best now and in the next 2 years, for parents and people
BR
Ingrid García
In my humble view, I think the answer to this question is dependent upon some factors such as; the socio-cultural context, the availability of the digital infrastructure to drive the use of digitally mediated teaching and learning solutions, the intellectual and workforce competencies and the learners' technology savviness and possession. Above all the magnitude of the impact of the pandemic in the jurisdiction in focus is also a determinant factor. Nonetheless, a hybrid or blended approach with a highly limited in-person is an efficient mode in this time of the pandemic.
The universal adoption of e-learning due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is not negotiable. The social distance measure which probably is the generally accepted means to break the community transmission of the coronavirus has made it difficult to continue the face-to-face teaching and encourage distance learning. However, the slight modification I may suggest is the application of both e-learning and face-to-face teaching. This will address the individual nation's peculiarities. However, the university courses i.e medicine, engineering, etc that require laboratory study can not be conducted online or with distance learning. The face-to-face arrangement, with strict controls, should be provided for practical classes or courses that require laboratory training. The controls will pay attention to the number of students at a time, restricted hours of study, regular fumigation, use of hand sanitizers, etc.
In the training of organisational coaches, we find that the 3 day zoom workshop is just as effective as our previous face to face option. Considering this is all we can do for now, we are delighted to find that the transfer of learning is strong, participants are focused and enjoying the class (for 3 straight days) and there is a strong demonstration of developing skill as we go through the 3 days. Also, a certain "democracy" in the classroom (no bad seats in the zoom room!) where introverts get equal airtime with extroverts is refreshing. We have seen greater diversity in the room as those unable to travel (or unable to afford the travel) to attend capital city workshops can join from home. And yes, I agree with others above, a certain level of affluence (to have the privacy, correct device and solid internet connection) is assumed (and cannot be assumed in all places for all people).
The outbreak of COVID-19 in the associated Health Protocols thereof, have clearly shown the imperatives of using online delivery/ virtual teaching in what we could refer to as the Cyberspace classroom. At my Institution which is an Open and Distance Learning University, we have moved totally to virtual learning using MOODLE platform and various digital collaboration tools in Google such as Google Meet, Google classroom. We have totally moved away from venue based activities including examinations.
Djemli Samir In the current pandemic situation the issue is to focus on online teaching. I would recommend the following:
1) Take online classes using the Google Classroom platform which is integrated with Google Meet.
2) Use Google Classroom platform to give student assignments and also conduct assessments and do grading.
3) Start developing your own MOOCs on any Learning Management System platform such as Moodle or Canvas.
4) Ask your students and teachers to pursue courses on popular platform such as Coursera and EdX etc for their own professional development.
Virtual education has never chalenged formal face to face education in any shape or form, nontheless, it offers an effective alternative mode for teaching and learning activity. In the face of COVID-19 pendemic virtual education has emerged as only dependable saviour of our formal education system that was almost on the verge of collape because of sudden closure of institutions due to lockdown compulsions. In my humble opinion distance education has proved its efficasy during the pendemic more than before and will remain even more attractive and viable option for many education providers in future. Resuming face to face educational platform is must for higher education sector though online education has profoundly weakened the myth of formal sytem during lockdown of universities due to COVID-19.
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