Fourteenth International Conference on e-Learning & Innovative Pedagogies

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to suspension of face-to-face teaching in higher education leaving many universities with little time to adapt in the state of uncertainty. In the UK, many universities closed their campuses and took the steps necessary to rapidly move to remote and blended online methods of learning, teaching and assessment during this period of disruption. In this paper, we critically reflect on our experience of teaching research methods online in MA Urban Design programme during the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK. We adopt an exploratory case study research design with a qualitative approach with an aim to inform resilient practices of teaching in response to public health emergencies. We carry out a comparative analysis of the pre- and post-adaptation of the subject design pertaining to digital transition to online platforms and discuss primary challenges and opportunities in relation to the learning and teaching activities, assessment and feedback, and digital platforms. The paper concludes by outlining some key considerations to inform the development of more resilient and adaptive teaching frameworks in the face of uncertain, changing, and challenging situations such as the Covid-19 pandemic.