Date |
USTF Goal and Objective |
Topic |
Lecturer |
27February 2020 |
Goal 1: Promoting excellence of education in an inspiring environment of teaching and learning. Objective 1.1: Enhance the effectiveness and relevance of existing academic programs to meet national and international standards. |
Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Education (MOE), 2019 Standards for Institutional Licensure and Program Accreditation |
Prof. Zeinelabidin E. Rizk |
Summary |
This seminar discusses the main features of the CAA 2019 Standards for Institutional Licensure and Program Accreditation, highlighting: (1) similarities and differences with the 2011 Standards, (2) newly introduced risk assessment, and (3) detailed review processes and procedural manuals. The CAA 2019 program accreditation standards include the following: (a) quality assurance, (b) educational programs, (c) research and scholarly activities, (d) faculty and professional staff, (e) students, (f) learning resources, and (g) some other requirements. |
Participants |
USTF Faculty Members and Chairs of Administrative and Financial Offices |
Date |
USTF Goal and Objective |
Topic |
Lecturer |
08-12March 2020 |
Goal 1: Promoting excellence of education in an inspiring environment of teaching and learning. Objective 1.2: Promote up-to-date teaching methodologies across all disciplines in line with international best practice. |
Guidelines for Integrating the WebEx online system into the Moodle LMS for online instruction and course delivery (in Arabic and English). |
Mr. Amir Katmeh Ms. Minatallah Essam m.hamza@ustf.ac.ae |
Summary |
Moodle is an open source e-learning management system (LMS) The system, which has gained great popularity among educators and academics around the world as a tool to create online dynamic websites for their classes and students. The Moodle platform gives instructors the best tools to manage and encourage Learning. Many educational institutions use the Moodle as a platform to give their curricula entirely on the Internet. Furthermore, Moodle system enables homework submission, design and grading of exams, file upload, import and transport. The system can be easily integrated with several online learning systems. Webex is a cloud-based platform enabling video and team messaging and file sharing. Webex allows small group online meetings as well as large number videoconferencing. Webex also offers video mesh, a hybrid media service that keeps local users on premises and pushes remote or overflow users to the cloud. |
Participants |
USTF Faculty Members and Teaching Assistants. |
Date |
USTF Goal and Objective |
Topic |
Lecturer |
24March 2020 |
Goal 1: Achieving operational excellence in University services
Objective 1.5: Undertake regular assessment of teaching and learning activities according to pre-specified standard benchmarking. |
Assessment processes by faculty and students for improvement of faculty performance, academic advising and quality control of E-learning and Distance for continuous quality assessment. |
OIPE Prof. Ali Abouelnour a.abouelnour@ustf.ac.ae |
Summary |
Course assessment includes course-related questions and instructor-related ones. The assessment also shows the faculty score relative to the programs average and the deviation (plus or minus) and helps the course instructor to figure out the week points he must work on in the next course offering. Assessment of academic advisors also helps improvement of the advising process. Assessment is a process of evaluation of the University performance in delivering online courses and services to students and faculty. The assessment results are presented, interpreted and transferred into actions, according to specific KPIs, to improve services and ensure quality. Filling questionnaires is a requirement from all students and faculty members. |
Participants |
USTF Faculty Members and Teaching Assistants. |
Date |
|
Topic |
Lecturer |
27March2020 |
Goal 1: Promoting excellence of education in an inspiring environment of teaching and learning.
Objective 1.5: Undertake regular assessment of teaching and learning activities according to pre-specified standard benchmarking. |
Video demonstrations (in Arabic and English) for USTF faculty and teaching staff on how to prepare online exams on the Moodle LMS and monitor them through Webex. |
Ms. Minatallah Essam m.hamza@ustf.ac.ae |
Summary |
Near the end of March, USTF anticipation of the continuation of distance education during the whole Spring Semester, which necessitated the preparation of various exams using the MOODLE Learning Management System. Video demonstration in Arabic and English languages were prepared by colleagues in the IT Department at the College of engineering and Information Technology. |
Participants |
USTF Faculty Members and Teaching Assistants. |
01April2020 |
Goal 1: Promoting excellence of education in an inspiring environment of teaching and learning.
Objective 1.2: Promote up-to-date teaching methodologies across all disciplines in line with international best practice. |
Control and Quality Assurance of Distance Learning Process through the Development and Approval of the University distance learning policy |
Prof. Zeinelabidin E. Rizk Prof. Ali Abouelnour a.abouelnour@ustf.ac.ae |
Summary |
In addition to be a requirement of the MOE, distance learning is the process of delivering courses by instructors to students through the internet when both cannot be present in the same place. According to USTF definition, distance learning (DL) is the term used at USTF for courses that are delivered primarily online through the Internet. Distance learning policy is based on academic standards, targets faculty development, student orientation, describes services and facilities and defined faculty and student responsibilities, disciplinary norms and procedures. |
Participants |
USTF Academic and Administrative Staff |
25April2020 |
Goal 1: Promoting excellence of education in an inspiring environment of teaching and learning.
Objective 1.5: Undertake regular assessment of teaching and learning activities according to pre-specified standard benchmarking. |
The role of USTF online exams policy in Planning, organization, implementation and invigilation of online exams at the University |
Prof. Zeinelabidin E. Rizk Prof. Ali Abouelnour a.abouelnour@ustf.ac.ae |
Summary |
The USTF online exams policy was founded on the guidelines of the Ministry of Education (MOE) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Online exams at USTF are a part of the overall assessment process of courses offered through distance learning. The academic integrity and quality assurance of distance learning at USTF are maintained via electronic tools.
The policy details include terms and conditions, exams environment, duties and responsibilities of the University Exam Committee, duties and responsibilities of students, faculty responsibilities, acts of cheating, disciplinary penalties and procedures |
Participants |
USTF Academic and Administrative Staff |
05May2020 |
Goal 1: Promoting excellence of education in an inspiring environment of teaching and learning.
Objective 1.5: Undertake regular assessment of teaching and learning activities according to pre-specified standard benchmarking. |
Final Online Exams at USTF: Implementation, Invigilation, quality assurance, monitoring and disciplinary rules and regulation Training on the Use of Lockdown Browser in Final Online Exams |
Dr. Mohammed Hassan Mr. Amir Katmeh Ms. Minatallah Essam m.hamza@ustf.ac.ae |
Summary |
Based on USTF Online Exams Policy, the Final Exams Coordination Committee has prepared the timetables for the final exams, according to four time periods to avoid clashes, put the invigilation time tables, trained faculty on the use of Webex and Lockdown Browser in exams monitoring, decided whether the irregularity of webcams are technical errors or an exam violation, provided a daily and collective report in the whole examination process, which turned to be a great success. Despite being the first experience, USTF can claim that the final online examination process has went up to the intended quality in organized manner and quiet environment. On May 5th, 2020, USTF announced link for the video explaining the guidelines manual for downloading the (Lockdown Browser) application on students’ computer and instructed them to make sure that the application is ready on their computer before the final exams. However, The University linked the use of the Browser with conducting a practice exam before the final exam, as a condition for its use in the online final exam. |
Participants |
USTF Academic and Administrative Staff |
21May2020 |
Goal 1: Promoting excellence of education in an inspiring environment of teaching and learning.
Objective 1.5: Undertake regular assessment of teaching and learning activities according to pre-specified standard benchmarking. |
USTF Distance Learning Development Committee as a tool for enhancement and development of distance learning at the University. Training on integration MS Teams in Moodle system and online instruction |
Prof. Ali Abouelnour a.abouelnour@ustf.ac.ae Prof. Zeinelabidin E. Rizk |
Summary |
The development of distance learning at University of Science and Technology of Fujairah (USTF) aims to provide continuity of communication and cooperation between all elements of the educational process, overcoming the barriers of time and space. The DLDC enriches the education and research environment at USTF, solves problems and removes obstacles of the traditional learning systems through technical empowerment. DLDC aims at to develop the skills of all university members, including faculty, staff and students, to become unconventional in their learning methods, characterized by intellectual flexibility, proficient in various and many skills, capable of self-learning, love to renew and search for information themselves, productive of knowledge, have an entrepreneurial spirit and capable in innovation and creativity. Training on the MS Teams will enable USTF faculty and students to use an already available online platform for online communication, meeting, teaching and learning. |
Participants |
USTF Faculty Members and Teaching Assistants. |