“An Overwhelming Cloud of Inertia”: Evaluating the Impact of Course Design Changes Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020, educators at all levels faced the challenge of responding to student needs and utilizing technology for instruction. While much of the emerging research highlights the experiences of students and instructors as they shifted from face-to-face to remote learning, this study explores the experiences of students in a fully online graduate program as the scope of the pandemic was growing. What is the best way to maintain a community of inquiry (Garrison et al., 2000) when so much is changing? This case study explores the impact of a variety of course design changes that sought to help students meet learning objectives while also seeking to alleviate the unanticipated pressures created by external forces. Ultimately, the findings suggest that increased flexibility with due dates and access to course materials were the most helpful strategy for helping students deal with the disruptive events of the semester. In addition, managing the disruptions and finding some sense of balance were important for both instructors and students.

Becoming More Resilient during COVID-19: Insights from a Process Evaluation of Digital Resilience Training

“…The effectiveness of the RISE program could have been compromised by the inertia experienced by students as well as the lack of physical interaction. Experiencing inertia was similarly reported by students using digital learning platforms [73,74]. Students' inertias were also exacerbated for several reasons, such as having an excessive number of readings, unattractive diagrams, and it being not a graded module.…”

Validation of the Italian Version of the Community of Inquiry Survey

“…Compared to other frameworks, CoI is distinguished by its pragmatic foundation, characterized by a high level of intuitiveness and flexibility, as highlighted by experts in the field [26]. This feature garnered particular recognition during the years of the pandemic [27][28][29]. The validation of the Italian survey involved a comprehensive examination of the relevant literature spanning two decades.…”