Perceptions regarding Distance Learning in Higher Education, Smoothing the Transition

Ardita Todri,Petraq Papajorgji,Francesco Scalera,Howard Moskowitz

doi:10.30935/cedtech/9274

Abstract

This paper presents the perceptions on distance learning approaches, assessed through an online survey, using experimental design of ideas (Mind Genomics). Students and professors of higher education institutions who had not yet experienced distance learning before COVID-19 pandemic period participated in the study. The participants belong to the universities located in Mediterranean basin, e.g., Albania, Italy, Morocco, Algeria and few African countries. Results suggest that distance learning will shift many of the responsibilities formerly on the professors to those of the students. The data suggests the need for emotional support during this transition, specifically to maintain interaction among students and professor as well as among students themselves in distance learning platforms as in traditional classrooms. The study shows that the effectiveness and the interactivity of this new paradigm are very important and any further developments of distance learning should provide strong support for these components. The position of the professor is indispensable as the guide to the entire process, suggesting that at least at the time of this writing (2020) distance learning approach is perceived only to be an intermittent complementary path to in-person interactions.

Highlights

The Distance Learning (DL), referred to as distance education, e-learning, and online learning, represents an education approach which occurs when the professors and students are separated by space and time
DL is based upon the sophisticated technology of today which allows the participants to ‘see’ and ‘hear’ each other as if they were in the same room
This study presents results obtained from a Mind Genomics experiment (Moskowitz et al, 2006; Milutinovic & Salom, 2017) with both students and professors of different group-ages, genders and stated reasons why distance learning is relevant to the respondents, i.e., the participants in the Mind Genomics experiment

Summary

Introduction

The Distance Learning (DL), referred to as distance education, e-learning, and online learning, represents an education approach which occurs when the professors and students are separated by space and time. DL is based upon the sophisticated technology of today which allows the participants to ‘see’ and ‘hear’ each other as if they were in the same room. Today’s sophisticated technologies allow for these ‘room’s, and have become well know during the current (Spring 2020) COVID-19 crisis, which has forced the use of distance learning on the world of high education. With the advent of DL phenomenon, technology is entering yet in another aspect of our life; the one of education. Already social media is part of our everyday life and accompanying us anytime and everywhere we go through smartphones, tablets, etc. The world of the classroom is the world of Blackboard, Canvas, Moodle, to name a just a few (Online Learning Statistics, 2019). DL as a model for education remains deeply influenced by the technology, especially digital developments

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