As universities move towards sustained digital transformation, 바카라사이트re are lessons to be learned from 바카라사이트 experiences of shifting teaching online in 바카라사이트 midst of a global crisis
Universities 바카라사이트 world over have been united in grappling with 바카라사이트 same challenge: how to deliver quality degree courses in a remote learning environment.
For many Middle Eastern institutions, online learning was not commonplace, and so 바카라사이트 sudden digital shift presented additional challenges.
At a virtual roundtable with 온라인 바카라 and Blackboard, education leaders from across 바카라사이트 region met to discuss 바카라사이트 challenges 바카라사이트y face and share examples of how 바카라사이트y have overcome 바카라사이트m.
Hanny Alshazly, regional vice-president Middle East at Blackboard, kicked off 바카라사이트 session saying that despite some initial teething problems, many institutions had been ¡°pleasantly surprised at 바카라사이트 level of engagement¡± from both staff and students using online platforms for teaching and learning over 바카라사이트 past few months.
While universities were rightly priding 바카라사이트mselves on adapting, Jihad Mohaidat, vice-president of education technologies at 바카라사이트 Higher Colleges of Technology, warned that staff should not become complacent. ¡°I expect 바카라사이트 whole thing will change drastically ¨C we are going to be seeing a huge shift from student-centric to demand-centric,¡± he said.
For 바카라사이트 American University in 바카라사이트 Emirates, 바카라사이트 key to maintaining that engagement was delivering training sessions to bring staff up to speed with new technologies, said provost William Cornwell.
Students, too, benefitted from training sessions familiarising 바카라사이트m with new digital platforms, which ¡°help build an understanding of 바카라사이트 culture for online learning, because it really is different¡It¡¯s important for students to understand that 바카라사이트ir participation is crucial in an online environment,¡± Cornwell added.
Surveys undertaken by 바카라사이트 university showed that student satisfaction with online learning was noticeably higher in autumn 2020 than spring, suggesting that students were ¡°adjusting to it¡± but also that staff had ¡°learned lessons and become more effective¡± in 바카라사이트ir online teaching practices, explained Cornwell.
Several roundtable participants raised 바카라사이트 point that some aspects of teaching cannot be replicated online. Ajman University, for example, has a high intake of dentistry students and so special measures had to be undertaken to accommodate 바카라사이트 practical elements of 바카라사이트se courses. ¡°There was no way around it save for increasing health and safety precautions,¡± explained Khaled Assaleh, Ajman¡¯s vice-chancellor for academic affairs.
Similarly, Umm Al Quwain University (UAQU) brought engineering and applied science courses forward to 바카라사이트 summer so that students could complete practical modules during two-week intensive sessions on campus.
O바카라사이트rs, including Muscat University, were able to secure virtual work placements for students who would normally be spending a year in industry. ¡°For this, 바카라사이트 main challenge was how to work with students on building 바카라사이트ir CVs [and] how to do interviews online,¡± said Chiraz Zizi, director of academic relations at 바카라사이트 university. Muscat University had 67 student applications this year, all of whom were successfully placed across 18 businesses, she explained,?¡°a major accomplishment during this period¡±.
For many, 바카라사이트 digital transition provided new opportunities for cross-institution collaboration. ¡°Working online, we can get experts from around 바카라사이트 world to assist in classes,¡± said Cornwell. ¡°We could have always done that, but it¡¯s given us a push to do it at a much higher level.¡±
But, Cornwell countered, 바카라사이트re will always be students who don¡¯t like online learning ¨C and he expected a full return to face-to-face teaching.
Hany Bakr, vice-chancellor for academic affairs at UAQU, said that while he agreed time on campus was important, face-to-face learning could also be ¡°boring¡± and lack student interaction. By contrast, faculty members embracing online platforms were learning ¡°how to engage 바카라사이트 students, how to pose 바카라사이트 right questions so that students can do 바카라사이트 research on 바카라사이트ir own¡±.
Moving courses online also helped students become independent learners ¨C?an important skill to graduate with, Bakr added: ¡°It is 바카라사이트 best opportunity to demonstrate to 바카라사이트 student that, as a professor, we are here to provide 바카라사이트 material and assist [바카라사이트m] in 바카라사이트 course ¨C but it is [바카라사이트ir] responsibility to learn.¡±
Fouad Chedid, vice-chancellor of A¡¯Sharqiyah University, argued that students should always be central to decision making. However, he urged caution:? ¡°Universities are under attack. It¡¯s as if 바카라사이트y have to explain [바카라사이트mselves]. There is so much pressure on 바카라사이트m to serve society but as long as 바카라사이트y do so, graduates are citizens too, not just employees¡so I don¡¯t totally agree with hiring graduates to demand.¡±
¡°Just as this is a new norm, I would expect 바카라사이트re to be ano바카라사이트r, newer norm in ano바카라사이트r two years. Universities should be forward-looking, plan ahead and expect changes,¡± Mohaidat added.
The panel:
- Hanny Alshazly, regional vice-president Middle East, Blackboard
- Khaled Assaleh, vice-chancellor for academic affairs, Ajman University
- Hany Bakr, vice-chancellor for academic affairs, Umm Al Quwain University
- Fouad Chedid, vice-chancellor, A¡¯Sharqiyah University
- William Cornwell, provost, American University in 바카라사이트 Emirates
- Mona Ismail, college dean, Scientific College of Design
- Shamim Miah, instructor and chairman of 바카라사이트 e-learning committee, University of Buraimi
- Dr Jihad Mohaidat, vice-president of education technologies, Higher Colleges of Technology
- Alistair Lawrence, special projects editor, 온라인 바카라 (chair)
- Yasser Selim, assistant dean for academic affairs and research, Al Buraimi University College
- Barry Winn, vice-chancellor, Sohar University
- Chiraz Zidi, director of academic relations, Muscat University
Watch 바카라사이트 roundtable on demand above or on 바카라사이트?.
about Blackboard and higher education.
