Challenges Faculty Faced Transitioning to e-Learning Platforms during the Current Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates

Siobhán M O'Sullivan; Ali A Khraibi; Wei Chen; Peter R Corridon

doi:10.1177/23821205211025858

Challenges Faculty Faced Transitioning to e-Learning Platforms during the Current Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates

J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2021 Jun 13:8:23821205211025858. doi: 10.1177/23821205211025858. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Siobhán M O'Sullivan¹, Ali A Khraibi², Wei Chen³, Peter R Corridon^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
² Department of Immunology and Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
³ Pre-Medicine Bridge Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Abstract

The authors recount the challenges they overcame to deliver lecture content and assessments while engaging students at their newly established medical school. Faculty must multitask in new and added ways to achieve the same goal in e-learning platforms. Online course delivery introduces additional barriers to engaging students, atypical of face-to-face sessions. We received valuable feedback, adjusted our delivery, and allowed our students to access lecture recordings at their convenience. Our sessions with students were more than just a lecture but a way to help people through a unprecedented time. Remote learning platforms also provided faculty with opportunities to develop new pedagogical skills and alternative assessments.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; United Arab Emirates; e-learning; medical education; premedical.