As lockdown hit each of our campuses back in March the Network of Quality, Teaching and Learning (QTL_net) at the Aga Khan University was ready with preparedness plan to support faculty in the transition to ‘emergency teaching’ remotely. Curfews and lockdowns across the countries we operate in have riddled our existing education systems and teaching practices, forcing us to come out of our pedagogical comfort zones and think out of the box on how to provide quality education in these new circumstances.
Today, all academic entities at AKU are offering online or remote classes to their students. QTL_net has been at the forefront of coordinating and support this effort.
At an institutional level, QTL_net played a central role in formulating the Online and Remote Course Readiness Policy and Procedures that meets the requirements of all our regulatory commissions and, includes a University-wide and a Course Readiness Checklist. In addition, Associate Director of the Blended and Learning team Chair’s the Rapid Online and Remote Teaching Coordinating Group (RORTCG) created by the Provost. For online and remote teaching to work, faculty and students need an enabling virtual learning environment. The group aims to create a synergistic platform for programme leaders and support services (IT, Library, Student Experience, Registrar’s Office, ELE_net, QTL_net) to develop responses to the rapid transition to online and remote teaching, as well as create a safe space to share lessons and concerns, to advocate for management and resource support.
To assist faculty in transitioning to this uncharted territory of fully online or remote classes, the QTL_net blended and digital learning team provided faculty workshops such as Teaching in a Virtual Classroom through Moodle, Live Online Teaching with Zoom and Digital Bootcamps to enhance engagement of students virtually. Additionally, the EdTech Lounge that attracts between 40-80 participants every week to create a community of practice and a safe platform for AKU faculty to share their online teaching experience through a peer-mentoring model.
At the entity and programme level, the Blended and Digital Learning (BDL) Team within the QTL_net has been busy providing customized support for asynchronous teaching in tandem with the Academic Computing Team at AKU. They follow a structured approach by assessing the particular needs of each programme or entity, and from thereon offering the required support which include but are not limited to: reflective group meetings, Moodle refreshers, copyright training, faculty consultations and brief catch-ups with faculty.
As we complete building the online plane to fly it high QTL_net remains committed to supporting AKU’s faculty, students and leaders in their response to these changing requirements and challenges.