Online Training - “Effective Distance Learning in COVID-19 Lock Down” 

Synopsis:

Almost all of our universities were only delivering in classroom teaching, which mandates the direct interaction between teachers and students. So in this respect, our universities had hardly any experience with distance learning and in current pandemic they are struggling to transition to an all distance learning and online teaching. In almost all universities there were very few systems and processes in place for a comprehensive transition to distance learning. Now it is becoming critical for them to tackle the challenge in a creative yet pragmatic way. The webinar is specially designed to discuss different approaches being used for selecting the best options based on a university own circumstances. The webinar shall discuss the following:

1. IT Department Revamping: Requirement to strengthen IT Services department in our universities to quickly implement infrastructure solutions for distance learning.
2. IT Tools: One of the most important decisions in rolling out is selection of a suitable online teaching tool. There are different options: a. Zoom b. Microsoft Team c. Facebook live d. Offline Recording and professional publishing using tools like VEGAS Pro
3. Using the classroom: There are universities they may still require teachers to use empty classrooms where possible. Many teachers rely on the whiteboard and may require demonstrating experiments in the lab .Zoom and other tools can be used in conjunction with an external camera pointing to a whiteboard in the empty classroom where teachers can teach.Students Interaction: Our teaching methods shall be very sensitive to students’ interaction. All students can watch and preferably interact via live video or live chat. 5. Students Assessments: Different methodologies of conducting assessments.

Learning Outcomes:

The Learning Outcomes of the Webinar are:

1. To exploring different teaching methods for distance learning with their benefits and shortcomings, these includes a. Online b. Offline c. Hybrid.
2. To learn methods for exciting all three domains of learning in online teaching: Cognitive, affective and psychomotor.
3. To learn methods to simulate the experience of classroom teaching in distance learning, with minimum adaptations and compromises.
4. To learn technique of equipping the classrooms / home offices so that a teachers would be able to live stream their lectures or record them for offline publishing.
5. To explore ways of switching between the whiteboard, PowerPoint slides and simulations.
6. To learn methods for encouraging students interactions a. Audio and video b. Chat box.
7. To evaluate effective ways of assessing students by giving them assignments, conducting exams and quizzes.
8. To learn how to blend already available content, video lectures, interactive tools, simulations distance learning.
9. To learn effective use of learning management systems (LMS) like Moodle, Canvas etc.

Students Engagement is a Must:

We are in a pandemic where the effect of the corona crisis is rapidly unfolding in Pakistan. The incident has necessitated all the teachers to set up their home offices, to learn how to use new technologies, to switch their courses to new formats. The students are also coping up with all these experimentation. They are raising concerns and in many places are protesting as it is not only a new paradigm for them but also the teachers delivering education are not trained on this relatively new mode of teaching.

It is very real that students sitting in isolation in front of their mobiles / laptops may simply give up in the absence of a supportive campus environment. The students’ engagement is the most critical part of distance learning. The following are very important:

1. Can everyone really take part in the live sessions?
2. Do they have enough bandwidth to join an online classes?
3. Is there a possibility for them to download recorded lectures?
4. Can lectures be mailed to them if there are connectivity issues?
5. How to plan online assessment as it is a key to distance learning education?
6. How to get students feedback about their needs?

Teaching Patterns:

Our teachers are to understand that learning patterns that functioned in class teaching are no longer apply to distance learning. We need to be adaptive and shall be willing to change our methods to insure students learning.

Trainer:

Dr. Shoab Khan

Professor, NUST College of EME