An effective blended online teaching and learning strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Level of self-efficacy among skill-based allied health students in the University of Santo Tomas-Enriched Virtual Mode of learning: A cross-sectional study

Background

Self-efficacy expresses a learner's perception of how well they can do in the online academic setting. Although students' academic successes can be measured by online learning self-efficacy, there is a scarcity of evidence targeted toward allied health students.

Objective

The primary aim of this study is to determine the level of online self-efficacy among students from skill-based allied health programs. The secondary aim is to correlate online self-efficacy with age, sex, year level, and program of the students.

Methods

This cross-sectional analytic study utilized the Online Learning Self-Efficacy Scale (OLSE) to determine students' level of self-efficacy via a survey conducted with students who underwent the Enriched Virtual Mode of learning. Descriptive statistics was used to characterize the study participants, describe the level of self-efficacy, and compare the subscales of OLSE. Inferential statistics using Spearman's rho was performed to determine the correlation.

Results

A total of 117 respondents with a mean age ± SD of 20.59 ± 0.11 years old, predominantly female (71%) were included in the study. The students from allied health programs had an online self-efficacy overall mean score of 3.83 (SD = 0 . 05 ; range 2.64-5.00) with the use of technology subscales weighted the highest mean score (4.24). Females have a higher average OLSE score (M = 3 . 92 , SD = 0 . 05 ) compared to males. Significant correlation was found between OLSE scores to sex (r = 0 . 260 , p = 0 . 005 ) and year level (r =- 0 . 199 , p = 0 . 031 ) while nonsignificant correlation was found between OLSE scores to the program (r =- 0 . 048 , p = 0 . 604 ) and age (r =- 0 . 123 , p = 0 . 185 ).

Conclusion

Students of allied health programs generally have a very good level of online self-efficacy. This study assists educators in developing proactive strategies and approaches to promote students' self-confidence across all domains and encourage them to adopt a dynamic remote learning-based approach. Educational institutions should use this opportunity to assess how well they have implemented remote learning to ensure educational continuity, especially in times of crisis.

The impact of digital learning on Saudi nursing students' engagement: A qualitative study

AIM

This study aimed to explore the perception of nursing students regarding their engagement in digital learning environments.

DESIGN

At one of universities in Saudi Arabia, a qualitative descriptive study design was used among nursing students from various academic levels.

METHODS

Data were collected using focus group discussions among a sample of 23 participants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The COREQ Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research were used to report this study.

RESULTS

While sharing their perceptions the nursing students reflected on the behavioural and cognitive aspects of engagement, yet they did not include emotional aspects of engagement in their conceptualization. However, the results showed that, while they reflected on their experiences they tended to reflect on emotional aspects of engagement. According to the study's results, self-paced studying, reflective exercises, and interaction with audiovisual and dynamic content all encourage the activation of past knowledge in online learning. The learning modality also was found to be a safe and convenient approach among the participating students. Digital learning presents as a promising educational approach that extends beyond the pandemic yet, efforts should be put in place to facilitate the optimal student engagement to meet learning outcomes. Further research is needed to measure its impact on engagement and other pertinent indicators objectively.

Osteoporosis e-learning courses: A systematic review to develop a comprehensive virtual course for General Practitioners

Purpose

One of the key strategies for effective management of osteoporosis is training health care professionals on early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis according to a structured course. The aim was to investigate the e-learning courses on osteoporosis around the world in order to develop an online course on osteoporosis management for general practitioners (GPs).

Methods

In this review, the Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and ERIC databases and the Google search engine were searched until March, 2021.Then, the contents of the eligible courses were extracted by two researchers independently and verified. After that, the content for an online course for GPs was developed and approved by a panel of experts constituted of endocrinologists, orthopedists, and other specialties involved in the management of osteoporosis to develop the final online course for GPs.

Results

In this review, 22 e-learning courses provided through 3 studies, and 19 websites were included. The content of the osteoporosis e-learning course was categorized into ten thematic categories including bone health, osteoporosis definitions and pathophysiology, prevention of osteoporosis, diagnosis of osteoporosis, fractures, non-pharmacological treatments, pharmacological treatments, treatment follow-up, postmenopausal considerations and hands-on work. The final modules for the osteoporosis e-learning contained five main categories, including bone measurement and fracture risk assessment, diagnosis of osteoporosis, clinical management, monitoring and follow-up, and sarcopenia.

Conclusion

Through a systematic approach, we developed modules for e-learning of osteoporosis management, which can be used to improve knowledge and skills of GPs in their practice in our setting.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-023-01361-8.

Enhancing COVID-19 Risk Mitigation in Bisha City Primary Schools: Investigating Teacher and Administrative Staff Awareness Through a Comprehensive Survey

Background and aims This research investigates COVID-19 awareness among primary school teachers and staff in Bisha City. It aims to enhance safety protocols by examining knowledge, awareness levels, and demographic associations. Despite school reopening, concerns linger. The study promotes informed decision-making, fostering a safer school environment and contributing to the well-being of the educational community. Methods In an institutional-based cross-sectional study among primary school teachers and administrative staff in Bisha City, our research aimed to comprehensively evaluate awareness regarding specific measures for minimizing COVID-19 risks. With a sample size of 348 participants, we employed a robust methodology, including online questionnaires addressing sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge about COVID-19 risks. The data collection period spanned from March 2022 to December 2023, providing a temporal context for responses. A pilot test ensured questionnaire clarity, and efforts were made to enhance reliability and validity, incorporating validated scales and iterative adjustments based on feedback. Non-response or incomplete responses were handled transparently, with sensitivity analyses to assess potential impact. The awareness level was measured using 17 Likert scale questions, and predefined categories (poor, moderate, and good) facilitated result interpretation. Researcher influence was minimized through training and inter-rater reliability checks. Confidentiality and anonymity were rigorously maintained, adhering to ethical considerations. Statistical analyses employed frequency tables, percentages, mean, standard deviations, and the chi-square test. Dissemination included academic publications, reports to the educational directorate, and presentations at conferences. This holistic approach contributes to the robustness and societal impact of our study, offering insights into COVID-19 awareness among educators in Bisha City. Results In this study assessing awareness among teachers and administrative staff in Bisha City regarding COVID-19 risk minimization, data from 348 respondents revealed key bio-demographic characteristics. The majority demonstrated good knowledge of environmental (83%) and personal hygiene risks (84%). The chi-square test indicated no significant associations between bio-demographic factors and awareness levels. Specifically, for age groups, χ²(4, N = 348) = 5.46, p = 0.707; for gender, χ²(1, N = 348) = 1.95, p = 0.744; for educational levels, χ²(4, N = 348) = 2.13, p = 0.995; for residency, χ²(1, N = 348) = 1.11, p = 0.892; and for job types, χ²(3, N = 348) = 8.30, p = 0.404. The absence of significant associations underscores the potential universality of successful awareness campaigns, suggesting that future efforts can maintain an inclusive approach without tailoring messages. These results emphasize the importance of sustained awareness efforts across the diverse demographic spectrum of the educational community. Conclusion This study reveals robust COVID-19 awareness among primary school teachers and staff in Bisha City, with no significant demographic associations. Successful, inclusive awareness campaigns can further enhance safety measures and promote well-being in the educational community.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and Wellbeing in Higher Education

Lockdown restrictions and social distancing regulations enforced by governments worldwide to prevent COVID-19 transmission have caused momentous disruption to the global education sector. Educators and students across all institutions and levels had to suddenly adapt to a new reality where in-person teaching was replaced by hybrid or remote learning activities. This chapter aims to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on teaching, learning and assessment in higher education. It discusses the challenges presented by the shift to online teaching and the pedagogical strategies developed to foster student engagement and assess their progress in a remote learning setting. Moreover, this chapter explores the impact of the pandemic on wellbeing and mental health of students and academic staff. The last section draws on the lessons learned from the pandemic to identify areas of good practice that are likely to positively shape the post-pandemic higher education panorama.

Navigating post COVID-19 education: an investigative study on students' attitude and perception of their new normal learning environment

Background

The incidence and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a drastic change in health professional education around the world. Traditional classrooms made way for online classrooms in order to ensure that learning continued in a safe and secure environment. However, how well health professional students perceived and accepted these changes have not been fully gauged yet. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the perception of health professional students about their new educational climate.

Methods

A modified and validated Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire was used to collect data regarding student perception of their educational environment.

Results

The mean DREEM scores for three time periods were in the accepted positive range of 101 to 150 indicating that most of the students perceived the changes positively. The results indicated that most students preferred blended learning over online learning or face-to-face learning alone. Areas where students were unsatisfied with their learning environment that need improvement were identified by poor item-wise scores.

Conclusion

Strategic remedial measures for these concerns need to be developed to improve the quality of education received by the students. However, the results of our study indicated that most of the students were able to adapt positively to the new education environment due to the change in the circumstances during COVID.

The effect of online and face-to-face active learning methods on learning attitudes

AIM

This study aims to compare the effects of online and face-to-face education models using active learning methods on students' learning attitudes.

METHODS

This retrospective and quasi-experimental study included total 203 third-grade nursing students who took the Obstetrics and Gynecological Health Nursing course face-to-face and online in the fall semester of the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Active Learning Methods Questionnaire and the Scale Attitude Towards Learning (SATL) were used.

RESULTS

The mean score of active learning methods of the students receiving online education (77.35 ± 18.63) was higher than the face-to-face education group (67.00 ± 20.67). Although there was no difference between the face-to-face and online education groups in terms of the effort to learn and caring for learning, online students had a lower attitude towards learning avoidance (t: 6.540, p: 0.000). There was a negative and low-level significant correlation between the evaluation of active learning methods and the total score of SATL in the online education group (r = -0.200; p = .043), no correlation in face-to-face group (r: 0.004; p: 0.963).

CONCLUSION

Online education, which uses active learning methods, affected positively students' attitudes towards learning and decreased their avoidance of learning more than face-to-face education. This study has shown that active learning methods allow online students to question theoretical knowledge, convey it to patient care, contribute to clinical knowledge, and facilitate their learning and analytical thinking based on the more positively evaluation by online students.

E-learning and E-modules in medical education-A SOAR analysis using perception of undergraduate students

BACKGROUND

Application of e-learning and e-modules in medical education has been shown to have a positive impact on learning outcomes among all types of learners, across diverse educational settings. Despite its benefits, e-learning and e-modules has not yet reached its full potential in medical education in India. Objective of this study is to evaluate the perception of undergraduate students regarding e-learning and e-modules using an appreciative inquiry tool SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results) analysis, and to identify the barriers and challenges for the same.

METHODS

This longitudinal study was conducted among participants from three consecutive batches (n = 250 x 3) of first-year medical students and two consecutive batches (n = 100 x 2) of first-year dental students. The sample was selected using a purposive sampling method. Two structured and validated questionnaires were developed for this study based on the modified Zhou's Mixed Methods Model; the 'Knowledge, Attitude and Practice' Questionnaire (KAPQ) on e-learning and the feedback questionnaire (FBQ) on e-modules. The questionnaires were administered via MOODLE / hard copy, before and after the implementation of e-modules, respectively. Identified strengths, potential opportunities, probable aspirations and likely results for e-learning and e-modules were tabulated based on the qualitative analysis of perceptions of large number students sampled across three years.

RESULTS

Six hundred and ninety students returned both questionnaires representing a response rate of 76.6%. Nine themes were identified in the "Strengths" domain as follows: Regular Update of Knowledge, Innovative Learning, Availability, Knowledge Sharing, Abundance of Information, Accessibility, Source of Knowledge, Creativity, and Increased Engagement. Eleven themes were identified in the "Opportunities" domain as follows: Clinical Skills training, Timesaving, Flexibility, Creativity, Increased engagement, Standardized content, Capacity building for students, Capacity building for faculty, Skills training, and Self-assessment. Thirteen themes were identified under the "Aspirations" domain with the three key themes being "maintaining and building on current strengths", "increasing potential opportunities", and "addressing the barriers and challenges identified in the responses to the KAPQ and FBQ questionnaire". Four themes identified for 'Barriers' were eye strain, distractions, preference for conventional methodologies, and internet connectivity.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this qualitative study are based on the responses received from first-year medical and dental students of a Private University in Chennai, India. In this population of students, implementation of e-learning as blended learning using structured and interactive e-modules may provide more engagement during learning as well as support self-directed learning (SDL) directly or indirectly. Adoption of blended learning with e-modules as an integral part of curriculum planning may be beneficial for the achievement of Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) goals in India.

Asynchronous Technologies in Mental Health Care and Education

Purpose of review

Patients, providers, and trainees should understand the current types of asynchronous technologies that can be used to enhance the delivery and accessibility of mental health care. Asynchronous telepsychiatry (ATP) removes the need for real time communication between the clinician and patient, which improves efficiency and enables quality specialty care. ATP can be applied as distinct consultative and supervisory models in clinician-to-clinician, clinician-to-patient, and patient-to-mobile health settings.

Recent findings

This review is based on research literature and the authors' clinical and medical training, using experiences with asynchronous telepsychiatry from before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our studies demonstrate that ATP provides positive outcomes in the clinician-to-patient model with demonstrated feasibility, outcomes and patient satisfaction. One author's medical education experience in the Philippines during COVID-19 highlights the potential to utilize asynchronous technology in areas with limitations to online learning. We emphasize the need to teach media skills literacy around mental health to students, coaches, therapists, and clinicians when advocating for mental well-being. Several studies have demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating asynchronous e-tools such as self-guided multimedia and artificial intelligence for data collection at the clinician-to-clinician and patient-to-mobile health level. In addition, we offer fresh perspectives on recent trends in asynchronous telehealth in wellness, applying concepts such as "tele-exercise" and "tele-yoga."

Summary

Asynchronous technologies continue to be integrated into mental health care services and research. Future research must ensure that the design and the usability of this technology puts the patient and provider first.

Exploring an Innovative Approach to Enhance Discussion Board Engagement

Online discussion boards are a standard learning management system (LMS) instructional tool used in the emerging online learning pedagogy. This pilot study examined an innovative approach that differs from how discussion boards have been commonly used. Using a retrospective, cross-sectional design, we evaluated the effect of shifting from traditional teacher and student-generated prompts to using student-generated videos with higher-order discussion questions to gauge student perceptions of peer feedback and engagement. Participants were graduate students in a health care administration course at a large university. Overall students' perceptions of creating and responding to student-generated prompts were positive. Students responded that they were more engaged and thought more critically about the content with this shift from the traditional way of using discussion boards. As digital technology reshapes higher education, it is essential to reflect and evaluate the effectiveness of current LMS applications and standard procedures to improve educational delivery.

Evaluation of Blended Learning Method Versus Traditional Learning Method of Clinical Examination Skills in Physiology Among Undergraduate Medical Students in an Indian Medical College

Introduction Clinical skills are crucial for medical professionals and are a vital part of a physician's identity. Medical students start learning these skills during their pre-clinical years of study. However, little research has been done on how novice medical students learn to improve these skills. Along with traditional teaching-learning methods, an approach to incorporating e-learning into medical education is through blended learning, which combines traditional classroom instruction with online learning activities. Objective This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of blended learning and traditional learning methods in teaching clinical examination skills to first-year undergraduate medical students by evaluating the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) test scores. Methodology This was a two-arm prospective cross-over randomized study involving first-year MBBS students. The experimental group (group A) received blended learning, while the control group (group B) received traditional learning for the cardiovascular system examination (phase 1). The groups were then switched for the respiratory system examination (phase 2). An unpaired student t-test was used to compare the mean OSCE scores between the experimental and control groups in each phase, with statistical significance defined as a p-value < 0.05. Results The study involved 25 students in each group during phase 1 and 22 students in each group during phase 2. The experimental group had a mean age of 18.4 (±0.96) years in phase 1 and 18.35 (±1) years in phase 2, while the control group had a mean age of 18.06 (±1.04) years in phase 1 and 18.55 (±0.74) years in phase 2. In phase 1, the experimental group had a higher mean OSCE score (43 {±2.92}) than the control group (26.4 {±2}) (p <0.001). After switching in phase 2, the experimental group (previously the control group) had a higher mean OSCE score (47.82 {±1.68}) than the control group (33.59 {±1.59}) (p <0.001). Conclusion Blended learning is more effective than traditional learning in teaching clinical examination skills to medical undergraduate students. This study suggests that blended learning has the potential to replace the traditional method of learning clinical skills.

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Burnout Inventory in University Teachers in Hybrid Education

Introduction

The scientific literature argues the urgent need for adequate tools to assess burnout in human service professionals, however, little progress has been made on this in university teachers in hybrid environments, even though after the pandemic, these work scenarios are predominant.

Objective

To determine the psychometric properties of invariance between male and female teachers of hybrid education in the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI).

Method

The anonymous, self-administered SBI was administered to 1060 university teachers in Lima, Peru, from online random sampling. Of the total number of participants, 626 were women (59.1%) and 434 were men (40.9%), with an age range of 22 to 76 years, with a mean of 46.97 and a standard deviation of 10.256. It should be noted that 74.5% of the teachers worked full time. The analysis used the statistical programs AMOS v24, SPSS v26 and R-Project v4.1.2. First, a descriptive analysis of the data was performed, as well as a multivariate normality test of the data. Secondly, confirmatory factor analysis was performed; finally, a factorial invariance test was performed.

Results

Cronbach's alpha of the SBI was 0.827, and for each subscale: Enthusiasm toward the job (0.742), Psychological exhaustion (0.889), Indolence (0.819), Guilt (0.816). According to the fit indicators, the confirmatory factor model is adequate. The results supported configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance, and strict invariance in the male and female groups, although further investigation of some items specific to the indolence factor is needed.

Conclusion

The SBI is a valid instrument to assess burnout in university teachers in hybrid environments. Studies associated with the SBI focus on its psychometric properties, burnout prevalence, related variables, and literature reviews. The validation of the SBI in various countries and service areas is discussed, as well as future implications for intervention in burnout prevention and mastery.

Student engagement during emergency remote teaching: A scoping review

Research on student engagement has recently gained popularity as it can address problems such as early dropout and poor achievement. The growing interest in investigating student engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic is reflected in increased publications addressing this topic. However, no review provided research evidence and an overview of existing literature on student engagement during emergency remote teaching (ERT). We reviewed how student engagement studies were undertaken during ERT from three perspectives: (1) the landscape of studies, (2) methodologies issues, and (3) the strategies used to facilitate student engagement. 42 articles were analysed from an initial pool of 436 search results. The findings illustrate that current studies were predominately undertaken in the United States (36%) and China (22%) with focusing on STEM subjects as a dominant discipline. The literature was largely inconsistent in defining and measuring student engagement. In addition, the majority of studies (57%) investigated students’ engagement from the perspective of students, unlike other stakeholders. The most prominent finding is that ERT promoted several important engagement strategies, including motivational factors, teachers’ facilitation, a hybrid learning model, and using learning technologies to boost students’ engagement.

Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Burnout Inventory in University Teachers in Hybrid Education

Introduction

The scientific literature argues the urgent need for adequate tools to assess burnout in human service professionals, however, little progress has been made on this in university teachers in hybrid environments, even though after the pandemic, these work scenarios are predominant.

Objective

To determine the psychometric properties of invariance between male and female teachers of hybrid education in the Spanish Burnout Inventory (SBI).

Method

The anonymous, self-administered SBI was administered to 1060 university teachers in Lima, Peru, from online random sampling. Of the total number of participants, 626 were women (59.1%) and 434 were men (40.9%), with an age range of 22 to 76 years, with a mean of 46.97 and a standard deviation of 10.256. It should be noted that 74.5% of the teachers worked full time. The analysis used the statistical programs AMOS v24, SPSS v26 and R-Project v4.1.2. First, a descriptive analysis of the data was performed, as well as a multivariate normality test of the data. Secondly, confirmatory factor analysis was performed; finally, a factorial invariance test was performed.

Results

Cronbach's alpha of the SBI was 0.827, and for each subscale: Enthusiasm toward the job (0.742), Psychological exhaustion (0.889), Indolence (0.819), Guilt (0.816). According to the fit indicators, the confirmatory factor model is adequate. The results supported configural invariance, metric invariance, scalar invariance, and strict invariance in the male and female groups, although further investigation of some items specific to the indolence factor is needed.

Conclusion

The SBI is a valid instrument to assess burnout in university teachers in hybrid environments. Studies associated with the SBI focus on its psychometric properties, burnout prevalence, related variables, and literature reviews. The validation of the SBI in various countries and service areas is discussed, as well as future implications for intervention in burnout prevention and mastery.

Subjective Outcome Evaluation of Instructional Videos in Leadership Education

The aims of this study were to examine the psychometric properties of two subjective outcome evaluation tools measuring students' perceptions of 24 instructional videos and to understand the profiles of students' perceptions of the videos. Online teaching and learning played an important role when school lockdown measures were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. To facilitate online teaching in a college-level leadership education subject, we developed and piloted 24 instructional videos, including 15 animated videos and 9 case-based videos, in the 2021/22 academic year. To understand students' perceptions of the videos, we developed two subjective outcome evaluation scales (one for the animated videos and another for the case-based videos) to assess the subjective perceptions of 1308 students. Results showed that the developed tools possessed good psychometric properties, including factorial, convergent and discriminant validity. The findings of this study also revealed the students had positive attitudes towards the developed videos, including positive perceptions of the videos' design and the benefits gained from watching them. The present study suggests teachers can meaningfully use the 24 instructional videos in the context of leadership education in higher education.

Exploring university teachers’ online education during COVID-19: Tensions between enthusiasm and stress

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities across the world radically shifted to emergency remote teaching. Since then, many universities have moved forward considerably and many lessons were learned in the area of online education. The aim of this qualitative study is to investigate how university teachers in a Belgian university experienced online education since the start of the pandemic and what exactly influences their experiences with online education. Six online focus groups (with thirty-two lecturers) revealed both enthusiasm and stress, and six tension fields that influenced their experiences with online education during COVID-19: (1) connection with students, (2) connection with colleagues, (3) digital opportunities and threats for students’ learning processes (online student feedback, online interaction, structured learning materials, flexibility in time and space), (4) changing teacher roles, (5) tension due to time pressure and (6) support issues. Every tension field contains both opportunities and threats for online education, which can inform practitioners of online education in the future of university education.

Shifting online during COVID-19: A systematic review of teaching and learning strategies and their outcomes

This systematic literature review of 36 peer-reviewed empirical articles outlines eight strategies used by higher education lecturers and students to maintain educational continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic since January 2020. The findings show that students' online access and positive coping strategies could not eradicate their infrastructure and home environment challenges. Lecturers' learning access equity strategies made learning resources available asynchronously, but having access did not imply that students could effectively self-direct learning. Lecturers designed classroom replication, online practical skills training, online assessment integrity, and student engagement strategies to boost online learning quality, but students who used ineffective online participation strategies had poor engagement. These findings indicate that lecturers and students need to develop more dexterity for adapting and manoeuvring their online strategies across different online teaching and learning modalities. How these online competencies could be developed in higher education are discussed.

Teaching bioengineering using a blended online teaching and learning strategy: a new pedagogy for adapting classrooms in developing countries

Research and academia have been recently affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and physical classrooms and laboratory experiments have been affected significantly due to the recent laboratory closures. This has led to innovative approaches to curb this problem. To address these difficulties in teaching bioengineering related courses that is of significant interest to students of the Faculty of Engineering in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, and of course, useful for engineering-based higher education institutions (HEI), a transitional pedagogy: Communicate, Active, Collaborate, Problem-based Solving, Learning and Assessment (CACPLA), which encompasses blended learning, was developed as a new teaching and learning strategy. In this study, we show that this new strategy can initiate a steady transition from physical classrooms to full online instruction for some subjects in engineering. This method has been trialled as an exercise for a module as part of an envisioned biomedical engineering degree programme which can be integrated with local industries and research institutions in sub-Saharan Africa. The teaching materials and environment were carefully designed and 253 students of third and final year classes participated as the experimental group. Also, the effect of critical thinking, pre-lecture, and post lecture on the overall performance of the students was assessed. Two questionnaires were designed for data collection, (a) for technical questions, (b) for receptiveness. The result of a student survey suggests favourable reception of the teaching methodology, which aided their understanding of the general bioengineering concept as applied to the materials chemistry and mechanical measurements context. It was noticed that 80% of the students indicated that the blended learning method was sufficient in achieving the learning outcomes of the study. The method is envisioned as a useful and sustainable complement to traditional teaching pedagogies and workshops due to the convenience and relatively high accessibility to Zoom and Google Meet Apps which can be readily employed without incurring significant costs.

Determining the e-learning readiness of higher education students: A study during the COVID-19 pandemic

The low readiness of university students to implement e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic is a worrying issue. Lack of motivation and satisfaction in learning coupled with low technological skills are widely revealed as contributing factors. This study examines the role of technological skills, equipment capabilities, user satisfaction, and motivation on e-learning readiness. Furthermore, the study also examines the significance of the mediating role of motivation. The study adopted an ex-post-facto design involving 1052 students as participants. Data is collected from a questionnaire form integrated into the university's e-monev system. SEM-PLS is a data analysis tool with a confidence interval of 97.5%. After being analysed, technology skills, equipment capabilities, user satisfaction, and motivation are proven to play a role in e-learning readiness. Likewise, motivation also succeeded in proving its mediating role in this study. The study's results further clarify that efforts to improve e-learning readiness require digital technology capabilities, equipment capabilities, user satisfaction, and motivation, so vocational education must strengthen these aspects.

COVID-19 and the Adaptive Role of Educators: The Impact of Digital Literacy and Psychological Well-Being on Education—A PLS-SEM Approach

Mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic raised mental health consequences. This paper examines the triangulation of Digital Literacy (DL), psychological well-being, and effectiveness of remote teaching and learning during the pandemic. Survey responses collected from 518 schoolteachers in Sri Lanka are analyzed with Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Results indicate that Remote Education (RE) has twisted a stressful life for educators. DL negatively affects the psychological well-being of the teacher. The effectiveness of teaching and learning and teacher engagement depends upon their DL level. Educators’ stress and depression status mediate the outcome of remote teaching and learning mode. Moreover, digital skills count more than the accumulated teaching experience. We emphasize the adaptive role of the teacher for sustainable digital education. The results indicate that augmented education success could be obtained by investing in digital competence. It suggests that upgrading DL is an urgent role and alarms the policymakers and education managers to mitigate the potential mental health and social capital crisis.

Advantages and challenges of fostering cognitive integration through virtual collaborative learning: a qualitative study

Background

The drastic shift from face-to-face classes to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled educators to ensure the continuity of learning for health professions students in higher education. Collaborative learning, a pedagogy used to facilitate knowledge integration by helping students translate theory from basic sciences to clinical application and practice, has thus been transformed from a face-to-face to a virtual strategy to achieve the learning objectives of a multi-disciplinary and integrated module.

Objectives

This study aimed to describe and evaluate, through focus group discussions, a virtual collaborative learning activity implemented to assist first year undergraduate nursing students to develop cognitive integration in a module consisting of pathophysiology, pharmacology, and nursing practice.

Methods

Fourteen first year undergraduate students and four faculty involved in facilitating the virtual collaboration participated in the study. Focus group discussions were conducted to elicit the perceptions of students and staff on the virtual collaborative learning session conducted at the end of the semester.

Results

Three themes were generated from the thematic analysis of the students’ focus group scripts. These were: (1) achieving engagement and interaction, (2) supporting the collaborative process, and (3) considering practical nuances. The three themes were further subdivided into subthemes to highlight noteworthy elements captured during focus group discussions. Three themes also emerged from the focus group discussion scripts of faculty participants: (1) learning to effectively manage, (2) facing engagement constraints, and (3) achieving integration. These themes were further sectioned into salient subthemes.

Conclusion

The virtual collaborative learning pedagogy is valuable in fostering cognitive integration. However, meticulous planning considering various variables prior to implementation is needed. With better planning directed at addressing the learners’ needs and the faculty’s capabilities and readiness for online learning pedagogies, and with a strong institutional support to help mitigate the identified constraints of virtual collaborative learning, students and faculty will benefit.

COVID-19’s impacts on the scope, effectiveness, and interaction characteristics of online learning: A social network analysis

The COVID-19 outbreak brought online learning to the forefront of education. Scholars have conducted many studies on online learning during the pandemic, but only a few have performed quantitative comparative analyses of students’ online learning behavior before and after the outbreak. We collected review data from China’s massive open online course platform called icourse.163 and performed social network analysis on 15 courses to explore courses’ interaction characteristics before, during, and after the COVID-19 pan-demic. Specifically, we focused on the following aspects: (1) variations in the scale of online learning amid COVID-19; (2a) the characteristics of online learning interaction during the pandemic; (2b) the characteristics of online learning interaction after the pandemic; and (3) differences in the interaction characteristics of social science courses and natural science courses. Results revealed that only a small number of courses witnessed an uptick in online interaction, suggesting that the pandemic’s role in promoting the scale of courses was not significant. During the pandemic, online learning interaction became more frequent among course network members whose interaction scale increased. After the pandemic, although the scale of interaction declined, online learning interaction became more effective. The scale and level of interaction in Electrodynamics (a natural science course) and Economics (a social science course) both rose during the pan-demic. However, long after the pandemic, the Economics course sustained online interaction whereas interaction in the Electrodynamics course steadily declined. This discrepancy could be due to the unique characteristics of natural science courses and social science courses.

Online education in higher education: emerging solutions in crisis times

The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes in higher education institutions, mainly due to the temporary closure of face-to-face activities in universities worldwide. The transformation from face-to-face to online education was one of the emerging solutions to this crisis. This research aims to analyse and describe the adaptation process from face-to-face to online education and the perceptions of faculty and students during the pandemic in a literature review study. We developed this study following the methodology supported by the PRISMA statement and the PICoS strategy, retrieving scientific literature from Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC and PsycINFO. Of the 241 studies that the search yielded, 29 have been included. The results showed that online education was an enabling alternative for the development of higher education, but numerous weaknesses in the transition to online education were identified. The study concludes that online learning is a future direction in higher education. Therefore, institutions should invest more in online education platforms and improve faculty training plans.

COVID-19 and E-Learning Adoption in Higher Education: A Multi-Group Analysis and Recommendation

Transition to e-learning has become crucial in the last two years, partially forced by the current pandemic. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to examine an integrated and comprehensive moderation-cum-mediation model that focuses on user intention to adopt e-learning. Self-efficacy, interaction, and e-learning contents were taken as the independent constructs. User satisfaction and user intention were taken as dependent constructs. Enjoyment and choice were taken as moderators. “Choice” was explicitly used in this study as a moderator to test whether the transition was by force or choice. Five hundred and sixty-two teachers and students from two countries, India and Saudi Arabia, were considered for this study. The findings indicate that self-efficacy and interaction augment user satisfaction and user intention. User satisfaction enhances user intention. It also mediates the relationship between self-efficacy, interaction, and user intention. Choice moderates the relationship between interaction and user intention. Enjoyment moderates the relationship between e-learning contents and user intention. This study is unique as it provides a multi-group analysis that compares nationality, gender, and the type of respondents in a multi-national context. All the stakeholders of e-learning, the teachers, the students, the policymakers, and the platforms, may find the results of this study particularly useful.

Virtual Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Bibliometric Review and Future Research Agenda

Virtual learning has emerged as a powerful platform for students and academicians in the "new normal" owing to the availability of advanced technological tools and platforms. Recently, considerable literature has grown up around the role of digital and remote technologies in learning and teaching during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, the research evidence on this topic is still fragmented, requiring a synthesis of this rapidly growing literature. This study aims to assess the key research trends in virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic through a bibliometric analysis of 1595 studies from 589 journals during 2020-21. Our study highlights the influential aspects, such as the most contributing countries, journals, authors, and keywords in this research field. We identified the following four main research trends: 1) challenges in online learning and blended learning strategies; 2) student-centered, collaborative learning, and curriculum design; 3) home-based laboratory learning; and 4) teachers' professional competence and interdisciplinary learning. We conclude this research by discussing the implications for regulators and educational institutions, and directions for future research.

Factors affecting business school students’ performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: A moderated and mediated model

The COVID-19 pandemic has directly influenced higher education by converting traditional face-to-face (F2F) learning to blended learning (BL). Because of this dramatic change in the academic environment, it is essential to evaluate student views and preferences and how the BL setting affects their academic performance. Therefore, the current research aims to investigate the relationship between Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) constructs (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and facilitating condition) and student academic performance through student attitude. We also examined the moderating role of trust in technology between UTAUT constructs and student performance. The study uses a sample of 1050 business management university students for mediation/moderation analysis using the Hayes Bootstrap technique. The results demonstrate that student attitude mediates the relationship between UTAUT constructs and student academic performance, with trust in technology strengthening the relationship. The study offers implications for universities and policymakers.

Post-COVID-19 era: An Enabler for the Implementation of Blended Learning in Compliance With the NEP 2020

Government of India has cleared the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by bringing out many reforms in the education sector with a focus on education design, delivery, and assessment. This work is an attempt toward perceiving the post-COVID-19 era as an enabler in the engineering education process for the implementation of blended learning. Causal analysis through the Ishikawa diagram is brainstormed for enlisting all the potential causal factors for the inability to restore normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) is adopted for restoring normalcy through prioritized corrective actions. Thus, NEP 2020 is considered for leveraging blended learning.

Development and students' evaluation of a blended online and offline pedagogy for physical education theory curriculum in China during the COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak and continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the implementation of physical education theory (PET) curriculums among global colleges and universities. This study aimed to describe the design and students' evaluation of a blended "Sports Multimedia Courseware Design" course among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using information communication technologies, a 4-month blended course was developed, which consisted of 36 credits (18-credit online self-learning + 18-credit offline group-learning). A total of 1300 Chinese university students who majored in physical education, completed the blended course from Mar to Jun 2020, among which 238 (69.75% males; 21 ± 1.2 years) were randomly recruited to evaluate the course in terms of three aspects: (1) online self-learning, (2) offline group-learning, and (3) overall learning outcomes. A descriptive analysis was conducted using the IBM SPSS 27.0. Students' overall positive evaluation supported a successful development and implementation of the blended course. Over 90% of students fulfilled the learning tasks and satisfied with the online learning resources. About 83% of students indicated high levels of autonomous motivation and engagement in online self-learning. Approximately 88% of students showed positive attitudes to the offline group-learning content, while the participation rate (60%) was relatively lower than of the online self-learning. Over 50% of the students indicated self-improvements in diverse aspects after attending the blended course. Blended online and offline pedagogy shows apparent promise in delivering the PET course among Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further application and comprehensive evaluation are warranted in the future.

Factors Influencing Students’ Continuous Intentions for Using Micro-Lectures in the Post-COVID-19 Period: A Modification of the UTAUT-2 Approach

Micro-lectures, i.e., short learning videos on a specific aspect of a topic, have become one of the most effective technology-based learning media approaches and were widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in the post-pandemic era starting from early 2022, as K-12 students have been allowed to resume going to school, it is necessary to evaluate students’ intentions to continuously use micro-lectures for learning mathematics. Therefore, this study aims to explore attitudes and continuous intentions of students towards the utilization of micro-lectures. To investigate students’ intentions of using micro-lectures, we utilized the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT-2). Data were collected from 321 junior high school students (14–17 years old) in Bandung, Indonesia, who used online classes and micro-lectures to learn mathematics during the pandemic. A structural equation model was also used to analyze the independent (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating condition, hedonic motivation, and habit) and dependent (attitude and continuous intention) variables. Furthermore, online questionnaires were used to obtain data on students’ attitudes and continuous intention to utilize micro-lectures in the post-COVID-19 era. The results suggested that effort expectancy (EE) and hedonic motivation (HM) had a significant effect on attitudes, whose correlation with habit also influenced the continuous intention during this post-pandemic period. Despite these results, the habit variable was found to be the factor most influencing continuous intention. These results provide information to teachers, schools, and the government to continuously increase the use of micro-lectures based on improving student learning performances in the post-pandemic era.

Preference analysis on the online learning attributes among senior high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A conjoint analysis approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the shift from face-to-face to fully online learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preference of senior high school students on online learning attributes during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing a conjoint analysis approach. Six attributes which consist of delivery type, assigned tasks, evaluation, virtual laboratory, interface layout, and delivery platform were simultaneously analyzed through orthogonal design. A total of 1189 senior high school students were collected via purposive sampling approach through the social media platform. The respondents voluntarily participated and answered 29 stimuli with 2 holdouts generated by using SPSS 25 utilizing a 7-point Likert scale. The results indicated that evaluation was found to be the most significant attribute and followed by virtual laboratory, delivery type, and delivery platform. Interestingly, multiple choice evaluation, not requiring virtual laboratories, mixed delivery type (synchronous with recorded lectures), and MS Teams as delivery platform were considered as the keys for the preference. This study is the first study that utilized a conjoint approach to analyze the senior high school students' preference on the online learning attributes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the conjoint approach can be applied and extended to evaluate the online learning attributes globally by utilizing the attributes and design created in this study.

A meta-analysis of the effects of E-books on students' mathematics achievement

The 21st century allows the use of e-books to substitute printed books in educational context, thereby adapt teaching and learning to the potentialities of our digital era. Several studies examined the effect of mathematics e-books compared to traditional printed books on students' mathematics achievement, however, the results are still inconclusive. Therefore, this research conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effects of mathematics e-books on students' mathematics achievement. This is a quantitative research with data collected from 17 studies with 26 effect sizes (N = 3115) published between 2010 and 2021. The collected data were used to analyze the moderating effects of publication year, sample size, level education, treatment duration and type of e-books on students' mathematics achievement. The result showed that overall using mathematics e-books has a high effect (g = 0.82) on students' mathematics achievement. Furthermore, using e-Books does not affect students' mathematics achievement in year publication and significantly affects the pre-school level, who are more proficient in using technology. Mathematics e-books are more effective when used for less than 4 weeks and also effective when the sample is less than 30 students. There is no significant difference between non-interactive and interactive mathematics e-books. Moreover, this research provided a detailed description of the findings and implications as well as highlighted some suggestions for future studies.

Active Blended Learning Engineering Students: A Case Study

An ongoing technological, economic, and societal change forces a new understanding of engineering and modifies the requirements for higher engineering education. Consequently, an educational approach based on the combination of blended learning and active learning promises great prospects for the enhancement of the knowledge and skills acquisition thanks to the flexibility it opens up. In this research, an attitude to study is first ever analysed from the standpoint of students enrolled in three various degree levels, namely, a Bachelor of Science program, a Master of Science program, and a new EuroTeQ program. The strengths and weaknesses of the blended and active learning combination are evaluated from didactic and methodological sides. It shows a fundamentally different approach to learning from students belonging to various degree programs. Most of the bachelor degree learners volunteered to participate in active learning, although a significant proportion of them was unable to succeed. In contrast, the learning of master students looks more circumspect and selective; they devote less time to study, but spend it more wisely, being more highly responsible for the outcomes than bachelors. The EuroTeQ participants did not push on many active learning activities, but demonstrated quite high motivation in quizzes, labs, and online consultations. As a result, the outcomes of the first academic year satisfied mainly the most strong of the EuroTeQ students.

Industrial Processes Online Teaching: A Good Practice for Undergraduate Engineering Students in Times of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic required higher education institutions to change the modality of face-to-face to online learning overnight. Adaptations were needed, particularly in industrial process training in Chemical Engineering and related careers. Students could not access companies and industries for internships or industrial visits, intended to allow undergraduate students to observe the process engineers’ work in professional spaces. This paper describes a pedagogical strategy to overcome this limitation. Here, we report an approach applied in an Industrial Processes course, with students from the 8th to 10th semesters and alumni, from the undergraduate Petrochemical Engineering program at Yachay Tech University (Ecuador). In this course, the students developed group projects involving an industrial process analysis focused on economic sectors of interest in the country. The projects also included a revision of official figures and statistics on production data, consumption, and perspectives of the different markets. The execution of these projects promoted students’ active participation through technical discussions by exchanging ideas. A high level of attendance at synchronic classes reflected a high motivation. Through feedback and interviews, the students’ comments confirmed the relevance and value of the strategy applied in the course.

Online chemical engineering education during COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from Pakistan

The development of Covid-19 epidemic into a pandemic led to great changes in education delivery modes around the globe. Online education (OE) began after the closure of education buildings. The unprepared start of OE led to access barriers, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. This work explores the scope of OE during COVID-19 in Pakistani institutions offering the degree of Chemical Engineering. A mixed-method approach was followed with a sample of 10 teachers and 1200 students from public and private sector universities. Teacher data came from semi-structured interviews by email, while students’ views of their learning experiences were collected through an online survey. The learners' responses showed that the unprecedented and unprepared shift to online course delivery lowered their motivation and interest in learning and they do not perceive the present practice as useful for several reasons. However, the teachers believed that the transition to OE helped the continuity of education, though they had to face technical, personal, social, learning-management-related, and other barriers they were not adequately equipped to deal with effectively. The results imply the need for a rapid preparation phase to enhance the effectiveness of OE during a crisis. The results may assist academics and policymakers in revising decisions regarding the great education migration to OE.

The Flipped Classroom and the Development of Competences: A Teaching Innovation Experience in Higher Education

Because of the changes in society, the educational scope must implement teaching–learning methodologies that help students to develop the competences that will be necessary in their academic–professional journey. This study presents a teaching innovation experience that is based on the flipped classroom methodology, which was carried out with 136 students (academic year: 2019–2020) in the subject of “Theory and History of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport” of the degree of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences of the University of Seville. The methodology of the study combines qualitative and quantitative approaches (mixed methods) through a pre-experimental design. The results show that there were significant differences in the acquisition of knowledge after the application of the methodology, which had a significant impact on the students’ competence levels. Moreover, the students presented high levels of satisfaction in different areas. This allows for the conclusion that it is important for this methodology to continue in later courses, given its contribution to the competences that are related to the formal aspects and that are linked to research and organisation. Recommendations for practice are presented at the end of this article.

Towards an Engaging and Gamified Online Learning Environment—A Real CaseStudy

Currently, remote work is common, and this trend has come to several areas and processes, such as education and teaching. Regarding higher education, universities have several challenges to overcome, the most challenging being transforming teaching to be more digital and engaging. Therefore, TechTeach has arisen as a new teaching paradigm that creates a unique learning environment and satisfies students’ and professors’ expectations. After the success of the b-learning approach, professors created new experiences utilizing an entirely online learning environment following this paradigm. This article shows the work performed through a real case study, explains the strategy used to implement this paradigm, provides students’ opinions, and analyses the results achieved. The results demonstrated that, while the effort was tremendous, the result was beneficial to all. After 208 online hours of classes, 11,173 downloads, 15,224 messages, 200,000 sessions, 3 rescues requests, and 28t cards, 98.15% of the active participants gave it their approval, 96.53% considered this subject equal to or better than the others, and 85% of accepted the gamification system. These results show that a class can be an engaging environment where students can learn and enjoy it regardless of whether it is physical or not.

Online, Face-to-Face, or Blended Learning? Faculty and Medical Students' Perceptions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method Study

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to adopt online methods which were inevitable to keep continuity of education across all academia after suspension of traditional educational systems. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of faculty and students of online and face-to-face learning, and their preference of the mode of learning after the pandemic.

METHODS

This is a mixed-method study. Quantitative data was collected through a survey from 194 medical students and 33 faculty members, while qualitative data was collected through two focus group discussions with 9 students and another two with 13 faculty members. Quantitative variables were presented as means and standard deviations. Paired samples t-test and Chi-square test were used. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was used to code, interpret, and make sense of data.

RESULTS

Mean scores of responses of faculty members and students were higher for face-to-face and blended learning compared to online learning in all survey statements with statistically significant differences. More than half of the students (53.1%) preferred the face-to-face mode of learning, while most of the faculty members (60.6%) preferred the blended mode of learning. Qualitative analysis identified five themes, namely: "Transforming the way theoretical teaching sessions are given," "Face-to-face teaching at campus cannot be replaced for some types of education," "Interaction in online sessions is limited," "Problems and challenges of online examinations," and "Technical issues and challenges of online education." It revealed suggestions that at least 30% of the curriculum could be taught online post-COVID-19. Some aspects of clinically oriented teaching including history taking and case discussions can also be delivered online in the future. Faculty members and students reported that dealing with online education was not difficult, although the transition was not smooth.

CONCLUSION

Medical students and faculty members were in favor of face-to-face and blended modes of learning. However, they perceived online mode of learning as an acceptable adaptation in theoretical teaching and in some clinically oriented teaching including history taking and clinical case discussions. Although face-to-face education in medicine is irreplaceable, the blended mode of learning remains an acceptable and practical solution for the post-COVID era.

Interpersonal Competences and Attitude to Online Collaborative Learning (OCL) among Future Pedagogues and Educators—A Polish and Portuguese Perspective

Interpersonal competences in relationship building, collaboration and teamwork are essential both in F2F education and in distance or hybrid styles of education. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as previous trends, some or all of the higher education didactics were transferred to the online environment. In this context, the Online Collaborative Learning (OCL) model, now known as collaborativism, is gaining importance. This research aims to diagnose and compare the level of interpersonal competences and attitude in the OCL model among students preparing for the profession of an educator, pedagogue or teacher in the autonomous region of Madeira and in Poland. Quantitative studies were conducted using the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire by D. Buhrmester, W. Furman, M.T. Wittenberg and H.T. Reis—as adapted by Poland and Portugal. In addition, the respondents expressed their views on OCL in the self-written questionnaire. According to the research findings, the highest level of competence in the Portuguese group was achieved by the respondents in terms of: Emotional Support (EW), Conflict Management and Resolution (RK) and Negative Assertion—Asserting Influence (AO). In the Polish group, EW was the lowest. The highest level of interpersonal competences was observed for Conflict Management and Resolution (RK), Disclosure (US) and Initiation (IR). The largest group of the surveyed students in both countries expressed a positive attitude towards implementing OCL in their courses of study and declared their willingness to be a member of a group that learns online together.

Portal Perfusion Through the Splenic Vein During Liver Procurement

OBJECTIVES

Livers procured via donation after cardiac death have produced good outcomes. Some centers use only aortic perfusion; others add portal perfusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report a series of organ procurements in which portal perfusion was performed via cannulation of the splenic vein instead of the inferior mesenteric vein in 4 donors after cardiac death and 2 donors after brain death.

RESULTS

After declaration of death, donors were brought to the operating room and prepared and draped. During procurement, first the aorta was cannulated, and then the atrium or inferior vena cava was opened and perfusion was started.The spleen was mobilized, the splenic vein was dissected out and cannulated, and portal perfusion was performed with 2 L of University of Wisconsin solution. Five liver allografts were transplanted: 3 at our center, and 2 at outside centers. One liver from a donor after cardiac death was declined because of a high fat content. All 5 transplanted grafts showed good initial function; there was no sign of primary nonfunction, and no vascular or biliary complications developed.

CONCLUSIONS

For livers from donors after cardiac death, cannulation of the splenic vein was easier than access via the inferior mesenteric vein. For donors after brain death, we also found this technique was suitable for livers with intra-abdominal adhesions or a small inferior mesenteric vein. Graft outcomes in this series were excellent.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on students' learning in higher education in Afghanistan

COVID-19 pandemic has been a global serious issue that adversely impacted humans' life. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students' learning in higher education in Afghanistan. A mixed method research design was employed in conducting the study. The quantitative data were gathered using an online survey questionnaire from 592 randomly selected students and 6 semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the quantitative data and the qualitative data were coded and analysed thematically. The quantitative finding showed that the students did not experience a constant online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic devastatingly affected students' learning in higher education in Afghanistan. In addition, the qualitative finding revealed that the students had problems with Internet and technological facilities in their learning and they suggested that the Ministry of Higher Education should design and introduce a practical online platform which will be free and accessible with a poor Internet connection because some of the students live in areas where the Internet speed is very slow. The finding of the study will help educational managers and higher education leaders to review and adopt policies for teaching and learning in emergency cases. It will also help lecturers to design a proper plan and improve their instruction.

Students’ Preference Analysis on Online Learning Attributes in Industrial Engineering Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Conjoint Analysis Approach for Sustainable Industrial Engineers

The decline of enrollees for industrial engineering during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing demand for professional industrial engineers should be explored. The purpose of this study was to determine the preference of industrial engineering students of different educational levels on online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study utilized conjoint analysis with orthogonal design considering seven attributes: delivery type, layout, term style, final requirements, Coursera requirements, seatwork and practice sets, and platforms. Among the attributes, 20 stimuli were created through SPSS and were answered voluntarily by 126 respondents utilizing a 7-point Likert Scale. The respondents were comprised of 79 undergraduate, 30 fully online master’s degree, and 17 master’s and doctorate degree students collected through purposive sampling. One university from the two available universities that offer all educational levels of IE in the Philippines was considered. The results showed that undergraduate students considered the final requirements with multiple-choice as the highest preference, followed by non-modular term style, and no seatwork and practice sets. In addition, fully online master’s degree students considered delivery type with the mix as the highest preference, followed by layout, and no seatwork and practice sets. Finally, master’s and doctorate degree students considered final requirements with publication as the highest preference, followed by no seatwork and practice sets, and mix delivery type. The students are technologically inclined, want to learn at their own pace, know where and how to get additional online learning materials, but still need the guidance of teachers/professors. The results would help contribute to the theoretical foundation for further students’ preference segmentation, specifically on online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Moreover, the design created could be utilized for other courses in measuring students’ preference for online learning even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flipped Classroom: Active Methodology for Sustainable Learning in Higher Education during Social Distancing Due to COVID-19

Methodological guidelines for virtual teaching during the lockdown, tailored to Flipped Classroom, are suggested by the Spanish University Education System. This educational methodology is recommended as an effective method for distance learning due to COVID-19 by several articles, studies, research, universities and institutions in different countries around the world. However, what is the impact of these extreme circumstances on the implementation of Flipped Classroom in Higher Education? The study design is a descriptive and correlational research that compares the frequency of the implementation of Flipped Classroom before and during social distancing. This information is provided by the participants, university professors from the Faculty of Education Sciences of the University of Malaga, through an ad hoc questionnaire. The results reveal a significant increase in the frequency of Flipped Classroom sessions (z = −4.80; p <.001) during the lockdown. The data also show a significant increase in the quantity and variety of didactic resources (t = −2.390; p = 0.021), mainly those related to Flipped Classroom, with video (z = −2.860, p = 0.004) and audio (z = −2.049, p = 0.040) files. University professors consider virtual teaching during the lockdown an opportunity for Flipped Classroom and digital skills that could improve the quality of university educational methodology.

From Resistance to Digital Technologies in the Context of the Reaction to Distance Learning in the School Context during COVID-19

In the relationship between teachers and distance learning in the context of COIVD-19, a series of unprecedented dynamics have emerged relating to a process of open-air experimentation that is going on in the world of school. The main constructs investigated in this paper concern the professional perceptions of teachers in terms of their skills and resistances towards digital technologies. To investigate this topic, a questionnaire on distance learning was administered to a sample of 658 teachers. From a methodological point of view, factor and reliability analyses and correlation and regression analyses were conducted. From the analysis of the results, it emerged that the questionnaire measures the resistance of teachers to distance learning and focuses on three main dimensions (two positive and one negative) that link teachers’ perceptions to the resistance to distance learning. In conclusion, the theme of the acceptance of technologies in the practice of teachers is still a subject full of meaning for professional perception and vision. A second issue concerns precisely the relationship between digital technologies and users, which must no longer focus only on the relationship with students but also on the perspective of the other training actors, including teachers.