Challenges and Strategies for Online Teaching in Information Technology and Other Computing Programs

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic significantly disrupted the educational landscape nationwide by forcing the widespread closure of institutions from elementary to tertiary levels. With the closure of institutions, programs which typically relied on face-to-face interactions to deliver content were abruptly demanded to switch to online-based education. This upheaval has spawned unique challenges in delivering content for various subjects and disciplines. Particularly in the delivery of technical programs such as information technology and other computing disciplines, the unexpected shift to online classes introduced significant challenges. The inability to interact directly with instructors and peers endangers students' ability to master much of the intricate and abstract concepts in computing courses. Further, students and faculty find themselves socially isolated and neither may be properly prepared for online teaching and learning. Strategies incorporating the use of learning management systems, web conferencing software, and open-source software can, nonetheless, be adopted to mitigate the challenges in the teaching and learning of information technology and other computing courses. This paper discusses some of the challenges that have arisen in the online teaching and learning of these courses. It also details some strategies that will possibly contribute to mitigating these challenges.

Online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic: Vietnamese language teachers’ emotions, regulation strategies and institutional policy and management

“…Initial actions of universities were to transfer contents to online learning environments with synchronous classrooms, without catering to the pedagogical strategies of online teaching (Crawford et al, 2020). The lack of proper preparation for online teaching and learning is a major barrier for both teachers and students (Rahimi and Martin, 2020). Although teachers generally believe the new mode of teaching and learning bring new experiences and opportunities, adapted pedagogical content knowledge for online learning is definitely needed.…”

Practices of online teaching, learning and assessment of the students of the BSc in EEE programme during the COVID-2019 pandemic

“…LMS may be used as the primary repository for uploading the lecture slides, notes, audios and videos, as well as links to external sites and resources. Open source and free license software can complement the materials given through the LMS to provide students hands-on training to grasp the concepts of their computing and IT-related courses (Rahimi & Martin, 2020).…”

Usefulness of Free Conference Call (FCC) in Digital Learning Platform: A Study

“…Akers et al [6] examined the acceptance of MR spatial computing (Magic Leap One headsets) using an avatarmediated social interaction application (Spatial) over traditional 2D teleconferencing software while adapting a fully remote classroom environment. Rahimi and Martin [7] identified the challenges that arise due to the certain closure of educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic and also suggest some strategies incorporating the use of learning management systems, web conferencing software, and open-source software to mitigate these challenges. Zao, Zhao and Siau [8] applied the eLearning usability heuristics to evaluate the major video conferencing platforms (e.g., Cisco WebEx, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom).…”