Hebat Allah A. Amin - (01/02/2021)
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An important article promptly addressing the needs and offering solutions through hands-on institutional experience.
Reyam Faisal - (01/05/2020)
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its very great work by ASU-MENA-FRI- leaders, through making this innovative and fast transition in such global crisis, that reflect their resilience and finding the solutions.
the major challenges I think that emerging with such technologies and the new trend that force us to adopt it are the communication, engagement, time management and digital literacy for both educators and students.
Somaya Hosny - (27/04/2020)
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This article informatively described the process followed in transforming the face-to-face teaching strategies to virtual platforms in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The unplanned nature of this transition was the main challenge, and what made this article interesting. I am sure other educators will benefit from the authors' experience especially how they engaged the students.
Gehan Khalaf - (27/04/2020)
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Valuable article reflecting the real situation. I totally agree that one of the most imprtant emerging needs is training the faculty on how to engage the students in the virtual classroom. The demonstrated case study is a good example as a tool to enhance student participation. Despite this world wide hard sitution, there is a bright side that most of teachers experienced the use of technology in their teaching.
Nathan Nagel - (26/04/2020)
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Exceptionally well written, logical and thought provoking.
P Ravi Shankar -
(26/04/2020)
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This is an interesting manuscript. The title of the paper provides the reader with an impression that it will provide a list of emerging faculty needs for training and education with regard to improving student engagement with online platforms. On reading through the paper, I could not come across a specific defined list of needs which was a bit disappointing. The authors correctly identify the speed of the pandemic and the difficult situation of colleges and teachers who have to scramble to respond to the same. Most schools are using available technical resources which in some cases could be freely available, non-institutionally supported platforms to minimize the disruption to teaching. Faculty and students are both under stress due to the pandemic. The social isolation, closing down of many avenues of recreation and support have added to this feeling. There will be emerging faculty needs with regard to social and psychological support and with regard to designing, planning and implementing student assessments.
The case study is interesting. The take home messages section does not seem to follow from the previous discussion in the opinion piece. This personal opinion piece is a good beginner but the authors should use this as a stepping stone to identify specific faculty training needs and how these can be addressed.
Gehan Sadek - (26/04/2020)
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A well-structured and informative work. It draws attention about the urgent need for all educators to rapidly adapt with the current situation during COVID-19 pandemic. All colleges of medicine must pay attention to the urgent need for capacity building of their staff in the domain of technology-enhanced learning. Besides, there is a need to for educators to know the student engagement methods during teaching, actually not only to adapt with the current situation but also for adopting as a long run. The article showed us a very successful case study that must be a model for all institutions, as the aim must be to not just adapt but the greater one is to complete the way of development that has started in many Arabic countries regarding scope of medical education. Actually, this period must not be missed.
Thanks for this great work
Possible Conflict of Interest:
No conflicts of interest
Ghada Mansour - (25/04/2020)
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A great article that portrays an utmost important topic nowadays. The emergence of the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has urged all educators to shift to virtual learning. Many were not properly prepared to implement this transition, to excel the use of all aspects of virtual tools, and to modify their courses accordingly. The main concern for most of faculty was to make sure that the scientific material is delivered to their students. The article, though an opinion article and a case study, tackled this situation very precisely, by highlighting the challenges faced by medical education during this crisis and emphasizing the need and importance of faculty development to master digital transformation, since this is the best evidence-based tool to improve their competencies, and to improve student engagement as well.
Thanks
nazdar alkhateeb - (25/04/2020)
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Informative case study and provide a piece of a practical solution to the current situation especially for developing countries where the technologies were not so much involved in the teaching and learning process.
Nagwa Kostandy Kalleny Nasrallah Nasrallah - (24/04/2020)
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An interesting article that contains a well informed case study which gives best understanding of the current critical situation, and reflecting the importance of using technology in education. Keep up the great work. Thank you.
Ahmed Ismail - (24/04/2020)
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Informative and precise.
Possible Conflict of Interest:
No conflict of interest
Enas Attia - (24/04/2020)
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Informative to the point article
Noha Elrafie - (24/04/2020)
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This article is a combination of a reflection on the current situation where face to face learning has halted all together and its impact on the principals if higher education. Given the extraordinary circumstances we are facing, there has become a need to raise questions related to the quality of education and the learning environment that impact of the educational transformation steps on student learning. Given the concept that this is simply an opinion article that raises a flag rather than offers solutions, its main idea is to direct attention to a need to re-establish a faculty development need that dis not exist before which is the skill to adapt educational concepts and strategies to the new digital transformation.
Wesam Osman - (24/04/2020)
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Good work and informative
Julie Hunt -
(24/04/2020)
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The authors describe the problem of technology-weak faculty who are subsequently trained using a remote intervention to use zoom conferencing in the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention is reasonably well described, though the survey assessing it is only briefly mentioned. The article adds minimally to the already published work on this topic but may have been of more use if the YouTube weblinks were provided, particularly those in English, as they could have been used for training faculty at other institutions.
Possible Conflict of Interest:
For transparency, I am an Associate Editor of MedEdPublish. However I have posted this review as a member of the review panel with relevant expertise and so this review represents a personal, not institutional, opinion.
Waleed Elguindy - (24/04/2020)
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Precise and informative article. Thank you.
Mervat Mansour - (24/04/2020)
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I found it an early important analysis of how changing learning and teaching from usual face to face model to E- learning model affect acquisition of knowledge
Possible Conflict of Interest:
No conflict of interest
Trevor Gibbs -
(24/04/2020)
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At this difficult time in the Covid-19 pandemic, we are all sharing ideas and thoughts on how we teach our students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. We need to share, we need to explore and we need to implement and evaluate.
At the same time, and from an academic point of view, we need to recognise quality in our ideas and suggestions.
Although I congratulate the authors' thoughts and actions on how they are intending to deal with student teaching, I am not sure that this paper adds anything new to what we have been discussing for many weeks now and i do not feel that I could recommend it to those working in the area.
Possible Conflict of Interest:
For transparency, I am one of the Associate Editors of MedEdPublish
Hany W. Abdel Malak - (24/04/2020)
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Excellent work reflects real time and ongoing discussions about the value of transformation to distance learning. A lot of efforts are done and also a lot of problems was emerged. This rapid unorganized shift leads to what is called online crisis format or OCF with a lot of efforts to compensate for sudden drop of face to face learning with lockdown but these efforts is far beyond organization as to apply TEL (technology enhanced learning) you should first plane then implement it in curriculum with continuous faculty development followed by a definite system of monitoring and evaluating the outcome. Also the problem of final student assessment and how it goes, remain a matter of continuous debate and discussion. Also student involvement, motivation, participation and also innovation still need a lot of work and organization.
Salwa Fouad Oshiba - (24/04/2020)
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I strongly recommend this article as a beneficial one for online learning and use of recent technology facilities in different universities. I advise everyone interested in this field to read it.
Possible Conflict of Interest:
No conflict of interest
mariam asaad amin ibrahim - (24/04/2020)
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Amazing work
Maissa Afifi - (24/04/2020)
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An important issue ,interesting, , to the point,informative and extremely recommended in this current situation .Many thanks.
Amr Abdelzaher - (24/04/2020)
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Excellent and very useful article, of course will help too much in the future process of learning which may be the principle way for education.Thanks too much.👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻💐
Possible Conflict of Interest:
No conflicts if interest
Nayera Mostafa - (24/04/2020)
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Useful article at a critical situation
Mostafa Mahran - (24/04/2020)
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I found this article informative and interesting, thank you
waleed Hamed Ali - (24/04/2020)
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Very important article towards the new era
Nagwa Hegazy - (24/04/2020)
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This article is a good reality reflection of the current situation where face to face learning has stopped all around the globe.Given the extraordinary circumstances we are facing, there has become a need to raise questions related to the quality of education and the learning environment that impact of the educational transformation steps on student learning. Given the concept that this is simply an opinion article that raises a flag rather than offers solutions, its main idea is to direct attention to a need to reestablish a faculty development need that do not exist before which is the skill to adapt educational concepts and strategies to the new digital transformation.
The educational world map is changing and we need to adapt that change smoothly and efficiently.
Thanks
Possible Conflict of Interest:
No conflict
Moustafa Abdellah - (24/04/2020)
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This is unique paper that targets our attention to the new era after Covid19. It is of great importance that we should realize that world after that pandemic will not as that before. So every thing will be changed; including the learning strategies. We should direct our efforts to find solutions to these challenges.
Possible Conflict of Interest:
No conflicts of interest
Puja Dulloo - (24/04/2020)
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Interesting article great reflection of the present technology based teaching. I enjoyed reading it. Present hour has generated need for faculties to enhance their digital skills to deliver virtual session to students for continues teaching learning process. The global condition has motivated some faculties to present their innovative digital teaching approaches, while dragged some from their routine comfort zone.
Virtual platform of teaching sessions has opened newer avenues for faculties to initiate interactive flipped session even after this pandemic comes to halt. Video presentations of practical demonstration are conducted by many faculties in various institutes. Question which are unanswered are from student end. Have student understood the topic, they probable are enjoying these virtual portals but are they attaining the learning outcome as per the expectation of the medical curriculum.
Feedback for the formative assessment is also an issue which needs to be looked for. Feedback mostly is virtual, in the form of answer to the question, rather than face to face or verbal explanation of strength and weakness.
Possible Conflict of Interest:
NA
Ayman Ibrahim - (24/04/2020)
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Outstanding reflection on technology related needed training. It has been an abrupt transition from a world where technology use in education was just an add on that we were trying to promote to a fact of life. As this transition started to occur we started realizing a complete shift of focus to technology related trainings. The demand became exceptionally high but on the other hand despite all the efforts exerted education specially in medical schools became on rocky grounds. It is time someone raises an issue ti be taken into consideration for future post COVID-19 planning. Great work. Thank you
Ola Gomaa - (24/04/2020)
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I believe tnat this publication, tbough a case study, highly contributes to the role of technology in overcoming the drastic change that took place in the learning process during COVID-19 time. This publication can in anaolgy be applied to scientific research as well. Overcoming the cancellation of workshops and practical trainings can be an obstacle but by introducing virtual labs for example, this problem maybe overcome. This publications opens up the floor for discussion beyond medical education.
Tom Grimwood - (23/04/2020)
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This opinion piece raises some very prescient questions facing medical educators today, attempting to juggle the principles of Higher Education with the realpolitik.
To this end, I feel that the paper is of two halves: the first raises the issues facing educators, the second provides a case study of measures taken to address some of these issues. In their current form, both are somewhat lacking, in my view.
It is not clear what core principles were forgotten, and how this happened; it also overlooks the fact that "blended learning" has now become the norm in many areas of medical education which already requires a certain amount of technical proficiency from staff. Is it the case that the current crisis has exposed that our pretensions to deliver a range of teaching methods is, in fact, limited by a lack of technological knowledge? I wonder if these precise issues could be made clearer.
With regards the case study, it could also be clearer what the learning or viewpoint to arise from this is; or how the use of this medium could be developed or adapted to link back to the core principles of education mentioned in the first half. This would also help to support the paper's claims that it is engagement mechanisms that need to be developed further - at the moment, this is not strongly present in the case study or description of the problem.