UoB explores electronic platforms to offer classes

TDT | Manama

The University of Bahrain has activated a plan to take advantage of the suspension period of study according to the current conditions to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), using electronic platforms. The President of the University of Bahrain, Prof Dr Riyad Yusef Hamza said: “The activation of this method comes in order to work towards achieving the goals of the academic year and reduce the effects of temporary disruption of study in educational institutions.”

For his part, the director of the e-learning centre, Dr Fay Abdullah Al Khalifa, said the Microsoft Team platform that provides the possibility of downloading study material and sharing it with students, offers new avenues for learning. She explained that all theoretical courses can be offered through this platform as they don’t need laboratory support.

She confirmed that by activating the electronic platform it has now become possible to communicate with all faculty members to ensure the readiness of content for all courses. The university official said that in addition to creating educational videos, the university has also prepared electronic training workshops for all faculty members on how to use these platforms. This step comes within the framework of the implementation of university’s development plan (2016-2021), which provides for “creating a renewable environment that meets the requirements of students and faculty members”.

A new e-learning programme is being tested in a number of public schools across the GCC countries. Parents have been asked to provide a conducive learning environment for the students at home. The Ministry of Education (MoE) in the UAE has been encouraging students, who are absent from school due to respiratory illnesses to take advantage of the e-learning options available on their schools’ online platforms.

According to a report in Emarat Al Youm, in a recent circular distributed to school administrations, the MoE, in co-operation with the Ministry of Health and Prevention, launched an awareness campaign for the prevention of coronavirus, targeting Emirati schools. The circular emphasised that students, who were absent from school due to respiratory illnesses to prevent COVID-19 infections, could keep up with their studies electronically or by calling their teachers.

The circular also specified actions for school administrators, teachers and parents to take; if a student showed any symptoms of respiratory illness, they would be exempt from attending classes until they recovered, based on the recommendations of the school nurse. The ministry also called on school administrations to implement awareness campaigns regarding the spread of infectious diseases, put up posters about the virus, ensure public hygiene and provide necessary disinfectants and sanitisers in classes.