Benefits of Online Teaching in Kosovo, Students, Professors Speak

This measure has been practiced even earlier this year in our country, and there have been different opinions about how appropriate and effective it is for students and teachers.

According to a study by “World Economic Forum”, worldwide there are currently more than 1.2 billion children in 186 countries affected by school closures due to pandemic.

Dean and Professor Resul Sinan at AAB College said that even though it was imposed, it is considered that mobilization has been achieved very soon so that students will not be left without speeches.

Various universes in the world have long applied online learning, but it is thought and prepared specifically, not by circumstances, as was the case with us with pandemic. As far as the effect is concerned, I would say that it is difficult for online learning to replace it and to have the effect of teaching in class, even because our students are not used to it and it is difficult for them to focus as it is in direct lectures in class”, Sinan said.

He says the initial challenges with online learning were technical problems because not all students were familiar with technology. Then, according to Sinan, the circulation of online learning has also been seen as a lack.

“Certainly lacks direct contact, discussion, attention, opportunity to react and activate, because no matter how motivated and required, it is difficult to get to the same way as in direct lectures in the classroom, the interaction is lost, not because it cannot be realised online, but rather because our students are not used to and I have argued that they are reluctant to engage in discussions, as required by”, he said for <x2Zernce<%>

Beatriza Culaj, a student at the University of Pristina and at AAB College, said online learning has priorities and shortcomings, depending on students.

Online teaching allows you to learn from any place where you feel more comfortable, in your room, in your coffee, or wherever it is more appropriate. This is useful for students who always try not to spend a lot of money because they don't have to pay an apartment in the city where they study”, she said.

According to her, online classes may be more stressful in the sense that there are many more tasks and projects that need to be delivered at a certain time, so it requires good time management.

The other “that is often connected to this is the problem with Internet or electricity, where in many cases professors do not believe the student who has not had access to legalisation or to hand over certain tasks, or there are some technical problems when the microphone or camera” is not working, said student Culay.

She says that online learning is lacking in practical terms.

“All interaction depends on the lecture, which can create communication between them when it gives them freedom of speech through games, tasks, or group projects. In this way students can work with each other even after classes in virtual study groups”, she said.

Meanwhile, the Professor for Teaching Affairs and the Professor at AAB College, Shemsedin Vehapi, said online learning has been effective and, as such, for certain situations, has produced even better results than the form of direct learning.

“Online learning priorities are some and may list them as follows: I advance students' knowledge and staff's use of technology with the aim of acquiring knowledge; Determines the communication process between teachers and students by making them more precise and rational in planning and exploiting time; Economicizes time allowing students easy access from all countries; Increase the opportunity for more frequent communication and improved learning materials that are circulated between students and teachers, and; Increase interactive and create more frequent communication options”, Vehapi says.

Professor Vehapi points out that this learning system also has its own shortcomings.

“Distance and lack of direct communication cannot create the environment which the real class offers. Can't work in smaller groups and live communication. Group work opportunities and access to study cases are alleviated. You can't afford real interaction and interactive activity that happens and reduce the working sense on the team. The possibility of presentation and discussion before the audience” is impossible, Vehapi indicates.

Online teachings in general are not as effective as traditional learning, but they are certainly better than non-class. A considerable research base developed by Karl Alexander at the University of “Johns Hopkins” and many others show that students, especially students with fewer resources at home, learn less when they are not in school. For now, virtual courses allow students to have access to learning and exercise and to interact with teachers in ways that would be impossible if an epidemic had closed schools even a decade earlier.

So we may be skeptical about learning online, but we also accept it and improve it.