Transforming a blended learning course in numerical methods into a flexible digital course during the Covid-19 crisis

Abstract

Mobile learning has had different paces in its acceptance: fast among technology developers and slow in some educational sectors and countries. Covid-19 crisis suddenly put an end to any possible delay in adopting educative technologies. This work describes the rapid adaptation of a blended learning course in Numerical Methods in higher education during the Covid-19 confinement. Its primary intention was to determine the impact of the transformation into a flexible digital course on students' performance discussing the elements introduced, the analytical methods, and the assessment tools (grading register, learning analytics, and a final student opinion survey). The analyses also revealed social and behavioural aspects related to social learning, focused on the students' virtual contact imposed by the health contingency. Observed students' adaptations of individual and team tasks under the new learning modality impacting their performance are discussed, highlighting and supporting the belief that the context strongly influences blended learning success.