Online learning at MEC is effective and exciting- Furwa Asim

Towards the middle of my second semester at MEC, there was a shift to online teaching and learning. This shift brought in a lot of changes in learning and teaching strategies. It included using new platforms for online classes, new assessment methods, new communication modes etc. It took quite a while to get used to this new virtual environment, however, with the support and additional resources provided by MEC, this time was substantially reduced.

Online learning was a comparatively new experience for me. I spent a lot of my time gaining information about the topics and tasks of the assignment. In the learning process, I came across some concepts that I might not have otherwise studied. The new concepts helped me in finding the best possible solution for the assigned tasks.

To achieve the learning outcomes, the on-campus exams and projects were replaced with assignments. It required a lot of research and critical thinking to reach a solution for these assignments. This approach helped in creating an in-depth understanding of the topics.

The sequence of the assignments required an initial submission of a proposal, which helped in organising my thoughts about the topic. The instructors’ feedback on the proposal provided guidance to attempt my assignment draft. The formative feedback provided on the draft helped in reducing errors in the final solutions, hence improving my final grades.

The submission dates for the assignments were well spaced and provided adequate time for task completion. This also helped me develop study skills such as time management and research skills.

Online learning is challenging but not impossible. The hard work and the instructors’ unconditional support paid off at the end and I was able to maintain my CGPA and secure a position in the Dean’s List 2020.

A special thanks to MEC staff members, my friends, and my family for their guidance and continued support.