Comment: @Omer Tanyilmaz

Several course participants have talked about the wave of educational changes that have swept over the education systems around the world as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. MOOCs and online learning have indeed been brought into the limelight as universities and schools transfer their courses online. There are three main ways that this shift can occur. First, the classroom experience can be replicated online. Second, I imagine a “hybrid experience” where students are exposed to some of the benefits of online learning while retaining from the face-to-face components. Third, the multiple benefits of online education can be effectively harnessed. There is a multitude of resources and software out there such as free webinars and online technical meet-ups that people can use. In a genuine online education experience, teachers can tap into these resources and offer an engaging learning experience to students, for example, through board posts, each and every student can respond and interact. The instructor can easily assess student participation and performance and monitor progress online. Thus, online education offers greater opportunities for flexibility, participation as well as easier assessment and monitoring than learning in person. On the other hand, learning in person can offer more context to interactions as it allows body language to be easily observed and interpreted. I cannot help but wonder whether educators and faculty in universities are able to make the best of these e-materials that are out there considering the pressure, stress and time constraints that they are currently experiencing.

Learning Technology: Mobile learning combines real-world and digital world resources, offering flexible and ubiquitous learning opportunities to all students. Higher education has been impacted by mobile learning. Studies have hailed its benefits such as its potential to keep students connected by offering easy access to and interaction with course information, which breaks down the barrier between learning and real-life (Gikas & Grant, 2013). However, mobile technology has had a relatively bigger impact on the developing world, particularly Africa. I can see how this technology can benefit those who are less fortunate by facilitating or enhancing their educational journey. In Uganda, exam results started being available through SMS in 2010. This project has made access to information about student achievement more efficient (Ndiwalana et al., 2010). Furthermore, mobile phones can increase access to mobile-enhanced educational resources as they are accessible to remote communities (Valk et al., 2010). Furthermore, mobile phone texting can maintain students’ commitment and boost their learning while enhancing their understanding (Swaffield,Jull & Ampah-Mensah, 2013).

Please follow this link for a quick video about the way mobile technologies is shaping education in Kenya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sfnsBNmtDY