Where to Find Advice for Building Better Courses Online
The emergency adaptation of online learning during the coronavirus crisis left little time for reflection on best practices. Here is a sampling of resources for instructors who want more guidance.
A Quarantine Reading List: Escapist Nonfiction from the Arab World
Readers who need a break from news of Covid-19 and chronicles of disease may find welcome relief in these books from the Middle East and North Africa.
Arab Universities Struggle With Final Exams and Reopening Decisions
The Covid-19 pandemic forced Arab universities to hastily shift classes online–or in some cases shut down completely. Now they need to assess learning and decide how to safely re-open.
‘Elmi’ vs. ‘Adabi’: The Power of Labels in Jordan’s Tawjihi System
Which curriculum to follow in their senior year is a big decision for high school students in Jordan. But how freely can they choose amid social attitudes that value science more than literature?
Arab Publishers Take a Hit From the Covid-19 Crisis
Publishing houses across the Arab region are looking for strategies to survive the effects of canceled book fairs and bookstore closings.
Jordanian Researchers Create a Cheaper, Faster Coronavirus Test
Researchers in Jordan have developed a new way to extract genetic material from a virus to speed up coronavirus tests.
The Shift to Online Education in the Arab World Is Intensifying Inequality
The attempted shift to online learning during the novel coronavirus pandemic is increasing inequality in access to education. In some countries, professors and students are suggesting online education be halted altogether.
Relief Organizations Help Artists Affected by Covid-19
Funding groups in the Arab world and elsewhere are offering assistance to artists and other creative workers who face difficulties because of the Covid-19 shutdowns.
A Guide to Top Platforms for Online Courses
Al-Fanar Media explores some of the major Arabic and non-Arabic online learning platforms that offer university-level courses at low cost or free.
Jordan’s Tight Covid-19 Lockdown Also Squeezes Vulnerable Populations
Strict restrictions on movement in the kingdom have kept the virus at bay, but refugees and poor Jordanians have difficulty meeting basic needs and accessing online education.
