From the Normal to the New Normal: Reflecting Metamorphosis in Pedagogies

Abstract

The study aims to shed some light on pedagogical and learning issues that have cropped up during the pandemic for transitioning from traditional classrooms to entirely virtual learning. The study reflects how the paradigm shift can directly or indirectly affect the soft skills of all parties involved in the success or the failure of an educational system. An in-depth focus group discussion methodology was used to collect information in this qualitative study. Thirty faculty who taught online courses at the tertiary level were selected for the discussions. They provide significant insights about how the fully online learnings continued longer than the anticipated timelines impact the pedagogical value and the futurity of an individual’s educational goals. The study shows that embracing the virtual approach in teaching can promote teachers’ innovativeness by using various new applications and digital tools but bring new challenges for dealing with diverse learning styles.