COVID-19 and Distance Learning: Effects On Georgia State University School of Public Health Students
COVID-19 and Distance Learning: Effects On Georgia State University School of Public Health Students
COVID-19 and Distance Learning: Effects On Georgia State University School of Public Health Students
ARTICLE ONE
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Front. Public Health, 25 September 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.576227
School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
Publication: School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.576227/full
2. The authors talk about how Georgia State University School of Public Health started
online learning approach to help students continue their learning
4. E-learning started and replaced the face-to-face learning as students interact with their
professors, solve problems and perform all their tasks.
Conclusion – the authors believe that the challenge that all schools and universities faced was
not the same. Some universities succeeded in offering all what is needed for their
students to pursue their learning without any interruption. However, others couldn't t
reach the expectations because of the lack of digital services and the absence of
similar situations or dependence on technologies.
Annotated Bibliography
This article is very important and is worth reading because it helped me know more
about the challenges both universities and students faced during the pandemic when they
started distance learning. The advantages and the difficulties of distance learning are various
starting from more autonomy and responsibility as positive remarks to the lack of tools and
unavailability or inefficiency of applications and materials, it is the lack of readiness in some
cases. However, it remains as a positive fulfilment because it helped the continuity of schools
and proved to succeed with many students as the first experience. I think if some problems of
accessibility are fixed, it will be appropriate for a large number of students.
RESEARCH QUESTION – Student name and number
Abstract
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INTRODUCTION
The spread of COVID-19 has led to the closure of educational institutions all over the world.
This tested the preparedness of universities to deal with a crisis that requires the help of
advanced technology including hardware and software to enable effective online learning.
Such closure accelerated the development of the online learning environments so that
learning would not be disrupted.1 Many institutions have become interested in how to best
deliver course content online, engage learners and conduct assessments. Hence, COVID-19
while being a hazard to humanity, has evolved institutions to invest in online learning.
Online learning systems are web-based software for distributing, tracking, and managing
courses over the Internet.2 It involves the implementation of advancements in technology to
direct, design and deliver the learning content, and to facilitate two-way communication
between students and faculty.3 They contain features such as whiteboards, chat rooms, polls,
quizzes, discussion forums and surveys that allow instructors and students to communicate
online and share course content side by side. These can offer productive and convenient ways
to achieve learning goals. In Pakistan, the institutions are using Microsoft Teams, Google
meet, Edmodo and Moodle as learning management systems along with their applications for
video conferencing.4 Other commonly used video conferencing solutions include Zoom,
Skype for business, WebEx and Adobe connect etc.
According to our literature review, three previous studies were found,5-7 supporting online
learning from Pakistan. The two studies at Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi and
Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore reported high student satisfaction with online
learning modalities. The study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assessed the feasibility of online
learning among students, trainees and faculty members. They reported good technology
access, online skills, and preparedness for online discussions among participants across the
medical education continuum.
With the increase in use of online modalities during COVID-19, it is necessary to assess their
effectiveness with regards to teaching and learning from various stakeholders.8 Therefore,
the current study explores the perception of faculty members and students regarding the
advantages, limitations and recommendations for online learning in Pakistan. The study is
timely as Higher Education Commission (HEC) is in the process of implementing online
learning across all the universities in Pakistan. The findings will help identify the required
changes on priority basis to make it more practical and worthwhile.
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METHODS
This qualitative case study was conducted from March to April 2020 in two medical and
dental institutes. Ethical approval for this study was taken from ethical review board of
University of Lahore (Ref No. ERC/02/20/02, dated February 25, 2020). Using maximum
variation sampling 12 faculty members and 12 students from University College of Medicine
and University College of Dentistry, Lahore were invited to participate. In addition to
learning management system ‘Moodle’, these colleges have recently adopted ‘Zoom’ for
interactive teaching in small and large group formats. The participants were also involved in
online Problem-Based Learning sessions, along with regular online assessments during
COVID-19 pandemic.
An interview guide was developed to explore faculty and students’ perception about online
learning modalities, its advantages, limitations and recommendations. The interview guide
was piloted to ensure comprehensiveness and then also validated by two medical education
experts.9 Two interviewers who were not involved in teaching and assessment of students
conducted four focus group interviews (n=6 in each group) with faculty members (n=12) and
students (n=12) of medicine and dentistry. The faculty and students were from both basic
sciences (1st and 2nd year) and clinical sciences (3rd, 4th and final year). All interviews were
recorded through ‘Zoom’ and subsequently transcribed verbatim. The data were thematically
analyzed: compiling, disassembling, reassembling and interpretation by all the authors
independently and then corroborated to ensure analytical triangulation.
Notes for Advantages, Limitations and Recommendations for online learning during
COVID-19 pandemic era.
3. They started thinking of the best quality and content along with assessments, a new
way of investments.
4. The universities tried to offer all the necessary tools, gadgets, and strategies to make
the online approach successful.
5. The online learning is feasible for the students and staff according to the study from
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Limitations:
a. It is Inefficient when it can't teach skills and there is no feedback.
b. The lack of attentiveness and plagiarism.
c. students were unable to teach and learn practical and clinical work.
d. only theory or knowledge because there is no instant feedback.
e. Assessment of understanding and acquisition wasn't.
f. misbehaviour and use of online materials while sitting for evaluations or doing
assignments.
Recommendations:
a. Reduce the load of tests
b. Increase interactive activities and debates.
c. more development is needed.
d. should reduce cognitive load.
e. more interaction(clinical)
f. more revision with psychomotor hands after the pandemic is over.
g. ways to detect cheating and plagiarism.
h. New online modalities
Conclusion – Author sates the benefits of the use of online learning in medical and dental
institutes as it promotes student-centered learning as they managed to start it during the
online learning is at a nascent stage in Pakistan. They tried to overcome the emergency, but
still more investments are needed.
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In their article for the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, Mukhtar, Javed, Arooj,
and Sethi. (2020) write about the advantages, limitations, and recommendations for online
learning in Pakistani universities and institutes. They believe new technologies were
implemented in online education in order not to disrupt education. They seriously devoted
attention and interest to the content, quality, assessments, tools, and strategies to overcome
the conditions of the pandemic. the study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa revealed that online learning
helped both teachers and students for the continuity of education and the intention that online learning
is to be implemented in all universities. the article determines the advantages, limitations and
recommendations for online learning, which made it important because it explained the three
points clearly with examples and good analysis. Online education enhanced students'
autonomy, centeredness, responsibility. It made the students at the core of the learning
proceed and helped them develop their skills and potentials significantly. The way lessons
and lectures are given is also flexible and all students have access to it. They can even record
lessons if missed or if they want to remember some points mentioned by the teacher. Another
point is the decrease in travel costs for both teacher and students. On the other hand, some
limitations were mentioned by the article such as the lack of feedback, lack of attentiveness
of some students and the problem of plagiarism. Besides, there is no way to learn practically
mainly with clinical work which is really challenging. That is why it was highly
recommended that interactive activities and debates amount should be increased, the
cognitive load should be reduced, more interactional activities with clinical studies are also
required. They also suggested a revise or recap when students are back to schools after the
pandemic and the need to find ways to detect cheating.
RESEARCH QUESTION – Student name and number
Revolution of Online
Education: Advantages And
Disadvantages
Coronavirus pandemic has triggered new ways of learning and has
accelerated the process of adoption of ‘online’ as a viable mode for
learning in 2020.
Image
Source : PIXABAY
Anshul Gupta of Yellow Class said that the revolution of edtech is driven out of the
massive adoption of technology because of the pandemic. It has opened up access
for a lot of people who did not have it till now.
"This is especially beneficial for people from tier 2-3 towns, who had limited options.
However, it is challenging for parents and teachers alike as this is not a medium they
have experience with. They are still trying & testing to ensure they have the kid's
attention. The models that are winners will emerge over time," Gupta added.
The number of those enrolling for virtual classes has witnessed exponential rises
and the trend is likely to stay, the experts from the education industry said.
"Online education is inevitable and will be ubiquitous. Pressing issues such as
accessibility and adaptability have to be fixed in order to make a big difference,"
Saikiran Chandha, co-founder of Typeset, said.
As with most teaching methods, online learning also has its own set of advantages
and disadvantages.
Advantages of Online Education:
Convenience
The first obvious advantage of online classes is the sheer convenience factor as it
allows students/teachers to attend/take classes from any location of their choice. It
saves hours as neither students nor teachers required to travel to a physical location
for the classes.
Flexibility
Another advantage of online education is that the students have greater flexibility in
choosing when the best time to study is. Students can search for whatever video
they might have missed and catch up on class later! All they need is an internet
connection and a computer or a smartphone.
Reduces costs:
The major advantages of online education come down to economics. Online classes
lower the tremendous amount of money for the learning institution and students. As
institutes do not need to rely on reserving a physical location to teach courses, it
ultimately translates to more cost-effective classes for the student.
Also, having to show up at a physical classroom location increases travel expenses
for students. Online learning cuts many of these costs, including those associated
with hiring an instructor, booking a facility, printing materials, and travel. Even all the
course or study materials are available online.
Vivek Goyal, co-founder and CEO of PlayShifu, said that while COVID-19 disrupted
many businesses including the educational institutions, it has also crated a positive
effect. "There’s already higher awareness and adoption of learning at home, and
hence the increased demand will continue for learning-based products and services
in every household," Goyal said.
Tech Savvy:
As we are now entering a new era — the revolution of online education, online
classes have changed the concept of traditional education radically. It is also helping
students as well as teachers to grow their tech skills.
Disadvantages of Online Education:
Lack of social interaction:
In a traditional classroom, Some students find comfort in group studies, lively group
discussion, and thus easy access to professors or their fellow students. However,
these moments do not arise in online learning. For some, these face-to-face
interactions are a must to bring the material to life.
Technology Issues
The classic disadvantages of online classes center around technical difficulties.
While on one hand, online education boost the technical skills of students/teachers, it
has also emerged as another key challenge for them. Online classes are completely
dependent on proper internet connectivity and functional systems(computers or
smartphones). In smaller cities and towns, a consistent connection with decent
speed is a problem. Without a consistent internet connection for students or
teachers, there can be a lack of continuity in learning for the child.
Akash Aggarwal, co-founder of Edutinker, said that online education is not
something recently invented. But it picked up the pace and came as a handy tool in
maintaining continuity during the pandemic because of the technology. He said that
education needs innovation and online learning could help in reaching out to millions
who couldn’t get the quality education.
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Notes for Revolution of Online Education: Advantages And Disadvantages
2. The author believes that the adoption of the new online approach has been swift and
significant. Parents, students, and educational institutes have contributed to make
online learning a successful alternative. Anshul Gupta of Yellow Class said that;" the
revolution of EdTech is driven out of the massive adoption of technology because of
the pandemic. It has opened up access for a lot of people who did not have it till
now".
3. Virtual classes increased and many people found it easy to enrol in online education.
4. The most important aspects of online education are accessibility and adaptability.
a.Convenience: the online classes enable students to attend the classes wherever
they are, they are convenient to everyone regardless his location. It also saves
time as they don t have to travel for schools. They can only stay at home and
pursue their education online.
b. Flexibility: there is flexibility in choosing the time to study, they can catch
up with any lesson they' ve missed. a computer and access to internet make
things easier.
c. Reduces costs:
less spending on education and institutes
more cost-effective classes for students
no more hiring of instructors, booking facilities, printing materials, and travel. All
materials are available online.
More and higher awareness and adoption of learning at home,
d. Tech Savvy:
the revolution of online education,
online classes have made a shift in the concept of traditional education.
helping students as well as teachers to grow their tech skills.
b. Technology Issues
technical difficulties.
online education boosts the technical skills of students/teachers and a challenge.
Online classes depend on proper internet connectivity and functional systems.
-a consistent connection with decent speed is a problem.
Without a consistent internet connection for students or teachers, there can be a lack of
continuity in learning for the child.
7. Conclusion – Author believes online education became more used during covid 19
because of the availability of technology. he expects it to evolve more with the new
inventions.
Annotated bibliography
In the article for the India TV News Desk, it (2020) explains the revolution in
education after the start of online learning and both its advantages and disadvantages in India.
The adoption of online education was an immediate decision taken by most schools,
academies, and universities in India. virtual learning paved the path in front of many students
to pursue their education online because it became easier to be enrolled in. However, the
provision of accessible internet and tools is a necessity to make the online experience succeed
and develop. the article determines the advantages and disadvantages of online education or
EdTech, first, online education is more flexible because it enables students toa attend classes
regardless of where they are. Which means they don t have to travel long distances to reach
school, schools and classes are at their fingertips. The e learning is more flexible in terms of
time as all lessons are recorded and internet access makes it easy. The education costs are
automatically reduced for both schools, universities, and students as everything is available
online. Technology skills are also well developed after the implication of E-Learning. On the
other hand, online education has many disadvantages as there are no lively groups of
discussion or debate. Moreover, there are many technical difficulties and becomes more
challenging. The connection and internet speed are sometimes a big challenge and cause a
lack of continuity. The author made higher expectations to develop online education more
and to evolve it with more focus on internet speed and easy access to classes and lectures.