NEWS
UOB Moves to Strengthen the Use of E-learning Tools
60% of Exams Conducted Using Proctoring System
UOB Moves to Strengthen the Use of E-learning Tools
Dr. Fay Abdulla Al Khalifa: Students and Faculty Adapt to Requirements of Online Learning
UOB has affirmed its commitment to enhancing the use of E-learning tools by both faculty and students, building on the experiences accumulated over the past four semesters following the full adaptation of online learning due to distancing measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The director of the E-learning Center at the university, Dr. Fay Abdulla Al Khalifa, announced that about 60% of the final exams for various academic courses were conducted through the Respondus exams proctoring system, with which students and faculty adapted well. She noted that most of the remaining courses did not require theoretical exams and thus did not need to use the proctoring system. Instead, alternative assessment methods were employed, such as projects, practical applications, and other approaches.
The university concluded the final exams for the second semester of the 2020/2021 academic year on Tuesday, 8, 2021.
According to Dr. Fay, the number of exams conducted through the proctoring system during the second semester exceeded 111,000 exams over a ten-day period, from May 29 to Jun 8, 2021.
She said: “Students and faculty have become accustomed to using the exam proctoring system, and the process has become smooth for them. The E-learning Center received only limited calls compared to previous semesters”, noting that “Weak internet connectivity still poses a challenge for some students”.
The Director of the E-Learning Center pointed out that the university plans to further expand the use of educational tools in the next academic year, such as the Ally service for facilitating access to digital content and the analytics tool that provides detailed insights into the learning process, helping to enhance and sustain it.
She mentioned that upcoming projects include electronically linking course outcomes with the scientific content on the platform, assisting faculty and students in identifying and understanding course objectives, outcomes, and whether the content meets the set goals.
She emphasized that the university is keen on maximizing the benefits of online learning, which has accelerated the remote education strategy, improved the skills of both faculty and students, and strengthened self-directed learning.
Dr. Fay Abdulla Al Khalifa stated regarding the upgraded Blackboard system that “The university made a timely decision to acquire the advanced version of the platform, which greatly facilitated the exam process for all students and provided access to the latest educational tools.”
