Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19 Global Crisis: UAE Educators’ Perspectives

Jamal N. Al-Karaki; Nedal Ababneh; Yasir Hamid; Amjad Gawanmeh

doi:10.30935/cedtech/10945

Jamal N. Al-Karaki ¹ ², Nedal Ababneh ¹, Yasir Hamid ¹, Amjad Gawanmeh ³ ⁴ ^*

More Detail

CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 13, Issue 3, Article No: ep311

https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10945

Submitted: 15 March 2021, Published Online: 28 May 2021

OPEN ACCESS 4246 Views 10741 Downloads

Download Full Text (PDF)

Abstract

The COVID-19 Pandemic affected all sectors worldwide including education sector changing the students learning environment at a large scale. In the education sector, governments had to close schools and universities around the world and turn into online mode of delivery. The sudden transformation to online learning demands educators and institutions to develop more innovative teaching methods in supporting students during this growing crisis. It is pertinent that this is the era of large-scale online learning, where education is delivered remotely utilizing various digital platforms. To this end, this move presented many challenges to students, educators, families, administrators, and government regulations. In this paper, we conduct an oriented and well-rounded survey that captures all aspects of distance learning verticals as perceived by educators in order to study online delivery aspects, including teaching models, communication media, and teaching best practices in distance learning. The paper will answer subtle and comprehensive questions related to student satisfaction and success, technical needs and challenges, teaching models, educator mobility, etc. across different universities in the UAE. In particular, the paper tries to identify best model to use given many key issues related to the adoption of e-learning during COVID-19. Overall, the survey results showed almost all participants agreed that online learning during the COVID-19 is a very good alternative solution to Face-to-Face approach. However, teaching models do vary in promoting students’ participation and students’ engagement. All participants agree that absence of the proper infrastructure at home will hinder the operation especially in courses with hands-on components. Finally, the educators questioned the credibility of online assessments despite the enforced exam integrity tools and methods. The paper concluded with many recommendations for continuous development of the distance learning systems during and after COVID -19.

Keywords: COVID-19, distance learning, online education, technology adoption, education models, higher education

References

Almaiah, M. A., Al-Khasawneh, A., & Althunibat, A. (2020). Exploring the critical challenges and factors influencing the E-learning system usage during COVID-19 pandemic. Education and Information Technologies, 25(1), 5261-5280. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10219-y
Almanthari M., A., Maulina, S., & Bruce, S. (2020). Secondary school mathematics teachers’ views on e-learning implementation barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Indonesia. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(7), em1860. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8240
Basilaia, G., & Kvavadze, D. (2020). Transition to online education in schools during a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Georgia. Pedagogical Research, 5(4), em0060. https://doi.org/10.29333/pr/7937
Baticulon, R. E., Sy, J. J., Alberto, N. R.., Baron, M. B. C., Mabulay, R. E. C., Rizada, L. G. T., & Reyes, J. C. B. (2021). Barriers to online learning in the time of COVID-19: A national survey of medical students in the Philippines. Medical Science Educator, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-021-01231-z
Coman, C., Țîru, L. G., Meseșan-Schmitz, L., Stanciu, C., & Bularca, M. C. (2020). Online teaching and learning in higher education during the coronavirus pandemic: Students’ perspective. Sustainability, 12(24), 10367. https://doi:10.3390/su122410367
Demuyakor, J. (2020). Coronavirus (COVID-19) and online learning in higher institutions of education: A survey of the perceptions of Ghanaian international students in China. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 10(3), e202018. https://doi.org/10.29333/ojcmt/8286
García-Peñalvo, F. J., Corell, A., Rivero-Ortega, R., Rodríguez-Conde, M. J., & Rodríguez-García, N. (2021). Impact of the COVID-19 on higher education: An experience-based approach. In Information Technology Trends for a Global and Interdisciplinary Research Community (pp. 1-18). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-4156-2.ch001
García-Morales, V. J., Garrido-Moreno, A., & Martín-Rojas, R. (2021). The transformation of higher education after the COVID disruption: Emerging challenges in an online learning scenario. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 196. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.616059
Hamid, Y., Al-Karaki, J. N., Nseobot, i. R., Effiong, a. I., dinnoo, v., & edet, a. U. (2020). A simple and predictive model for COVID-19 evolution in large scale infected countries. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology, 98(24), 3961- 3971.
Hodges, C., Moore, S., Lockee, B., Trust, T., & Bond, A. (2020). The difference between emergency remote teaching and online learning. Educause Review, 27, 1-12. Retrieved 15 June 2020 from https://er.educause.edu/articles/2020/3/the-difference-between-emergency-remote-teaching-and-online-learning
Huang, R. H., Liu, D. J., Tlili, A., Yang, J. F., Chang, T.-W., Wang, H. H., & Zhuang, R. (2020). Handbook on facilitating flexible learning during educational disruption: The Chinese experience in maintaining undisrupted learning in COVID-19 outbreak. Beijing: Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004459113
Iyer, P., Aziz, K., & Ojcius, D. M. (2020). Impact of COVID‐19 on dental education in the United States. Journal of Dental Education, 84(6), 718-722. https://doi.org/10.1002/jdd.12163
Kathleen Gray K., Chang S., & Kennedy G. (2010). Use social web technologies by international and domestic undergraduate students: Implications for internationalising learning and teaching in Australian universities. Technology Pedagogy and Education 19(1), 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/14759390903579208
Kundu, A., & Bej, T. (2021). COVID-19 response: Students’ readiness for shifting classes online. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society. Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-09-2020-0377
Lokanath, M., Gupta, T., & Shree, A. (2020). Online teaching-learning in higher education during lockdown period of COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Educational Research Open, 1(2020), 100012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2020.100012
Malkawi, E., Bawaneh, A., & Bawa’aneh, M. S. (2021). Campus off, education on: UAEU students’ satisfaction and attitudes towards e-learning and virtual classes during COVID-19 pandemic. Contemporary Educational Technology Journal, 13(1), ep283. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/8708
Marinoni, G., Van’t Land, H., & Jensen, T. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on higher education around the world. IAU Global Survey Report.
Mittal, A., Mantri, A., Tandon, U., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2021). A unified perspective on the adoption of online teaching in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information Discovery and Delivery. Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IDD-09-2020-0114
Muthuprasad, T., Aiswarya, S., Aditya, K. S., & Jha, G. K. (2021). Students’ perception and preference for online education in India during COVID-19 pandemic. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 3(1), 100101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100101
Pappas, C. (2021). Free educational technology for teachers. Retrieved 6 April 2021 from https://elearningindustry.com/321-free-tools-for-teachers-free-educational-technology
Paudel, P. (2021). Online education: Benefits, challenges and strategies during and after COVID-19 in higher education. International Journal on Studies in Education, 3(2), 70-85. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijonse.32
Sintema, E. J. (2020). Effect of COVID-19 on the performance of grade 12 students: Implications for STEM education. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(7), em1851. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/7893
Tzivinikou, S., Charitaki, G., & Kagkara, D. (2020). Distance Education Attitudes (DEAS) during COVID-19 crisis: Factor structure, reliability and construct validity of the brief DEA scale in Greek-speaking SEND teachers. Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10758-020-09483-1
UAE Government Portal. (2020). Handling the COVID-19 outbreak. Retrieved August 2020 from https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/justice-safety-and-the-law/handling-the-COVID-19-outbreak
Umoh, M. J., Nseobot, I. R., Hamid, Y., Elyassami, S., Effiong, A. I., Ette, U., & Soomro, M. A. (2020). COVID-19 city locked down: Implications on human welfare in developing countries. International Journal of Business Education and Management Studies, 4(1), 9-14. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3578134
Viner, R., Russell, S., Croker, H., Packer, J., Ward, J., Stansfield, C., Mytton, O., Bonell, C., & Booy, R. (2020). School closure and management practices during coronavirus outbreaks including COVID-19: A rapid systematic review. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(5), 397-404. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30095-x
Zhou, L., Wu, Sh., Zhou, M., & Li, F. (2020). ‘School’s out, but class’ on’, the largest online education in the world today: Taking China’s practical exploration during the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control as an example. Best Evidence in Chinese Education, 4(2), 501-519. https://doi.org/10.15354/bece.20.ar023

Citation

Al-Karaki, J. N., Ababneh, N., Hamid, Y., & Gawanmeh, A. (2021). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19 Global Crisis: UAE Educators’ Perspectives. Contemporary Educational Technology, 13(3), ep311. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10945

Al-Karaki, J. N., Ababneh, N., Hamid, Y., and Gawanmeh, A. (2021). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19 Global Crisis: UAE Educators’ Perspectives. Contemporary Educational Technology, 13(3), ep311. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10945

Al-Karaki JN, Ababneh N, Hamid Y, Gawanmeh A. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19 Global Crisis: UAE Educators’ Perspectives. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2021;13(3), ep311. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10945

Al-Karaki, Jamal N., Nedal Ababneh, Yasir Hamid, and Amjad Gawanmeh. "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19 Global Crisis: UAE Educators’ Perspectives". Contemporary Educational Technology 2021 13 no. 3 (2021): ep311. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10945

Al-Karaki, Jamal N. et al. "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19 Global Crisis: UAE Educators’ Perspectives". Contemporary Educational Technology, vol. 13, no. 3, 2021, ep311. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10945

Al-Karaki JN, Ababneh N, Hamid Y, Gawanmeh A. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Distance Learning in Higher Education during COVID-19 Global Crisis: UAE Educators’ Perspectives. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2021;13(3):ep311. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/10945