In light of the University of Malta’s decision to keep supporting its students via online teaching and learning, UM lecturers have been working hard at facilitating instructional continuity with their students.
As a university-wide measure, IT Services is already offering training on ZOOM, VLE and Panopto Personal Capture, three online tools that will make life easier for academics.
Newspoint caught up with some UM academics who are already delivering their material via online means, and others who are working in tandem with IT Services to provide material online.
Head of Department of Media and Communications within the Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences, Prof. Ġorġ Mallia, has set up a temporary lecture hall at his home, with the necessary tools to deliver his lectures online, in real time.
"With so many real-time platforms available, it is only natural to move to online learning once face-to-face lecturing, which is preferred by most, is out. I am still interacting with my students in real-time and they are still moving on with their studies", he told Newspoint.
"To communicate at any given moment, we are using all tools available… the e-sims mail facility, the announcement section of the VLE, and so on. Then, lectures are being delivered using Zoom or Google Meet, with training being given online to those who are less technologically inclined. The least of these prefer to upload asynchronous material to the VLE, though for smaller classes Skype sessions are also being held. One-to-one meetings with students and staff are being run using everything from Facetime to Messenger. This is not a happy time, but we are very glad that while our students and staff keep safe, they are still getting the maximum possible teaching and learning."
Prof. Adriana Vella, at the Biology Department within the Faculty of Science, said she has been teaching through different methods and at various levels for most of her life. She thus believes that "there are many ways in which we may keep in contact with our students to continue with course material coverage. It is useful to include relevant media available and scientific resources, including articles that may stimulate students to actively go through content at their own pace; accessing the world through the links and content provided while also encouraging feedback and participation through questions. At tertiary level, educators should guide learning more than talk all the time, students need to learn to develop their own skills to discover the world around them. Whether I am physically in class with students or preparing material for online sessions, this is always at the fore of the various educational tools and methods I prefer to use."
Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Management & Accountancy, Prof. Frank Bezzina, said FEMA has already communicated with its Heads of Departments and lecturers to provide assistance to each other, over and above that provided by IT Services.
“We have identified a number of people within the Faculty who can provide their colleagues with assistance. We have gotten prompt feedback and are already communicating with lecturers, who are in turn, providing material to their students via online means”, said Prof. Bezzina.
Similary, the Faculty of Arts has called on a number of faculty volunteers to expedite the process of remote teaching for its academics. Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dominic Fenech told Newspoint that as per a circular issued to the faculty members, "although there isn't an obligation to use virtual electronic tools in all cases, recourse to electronic tools would be advisable", "they may change their method of assessment for the study units they offer to make it suitable for the current circumstances", and "if virtual lectures are given in real-time, time-table slots are to be retained so as to avoid clashes" and that a Faculty level decision has been taken that "synoptic examinations will still be held, but we will remain open to the possibility of offering take-home examinations".
Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, thanked IT Services as well as the Faculty Office and Administrative teams for supporting lecturers and research support officers at FWS to continue lecturing online, a method they are finding to be very effective with students.
"I believe this new reality we are juggling with will contribute immensely towards having a University which is even more modern in its approach to learning and teaching. What I am most intrigued by in this debacle we are all going through is the growing sense of community in our Alma Mater. As our Faculty slogan goes, ‘we are in this together!’, he commented.