In difficulty lies opportunity: teaching improvements after an entirely online experience

Abstract

The global pandemic of Covid-19 forced to all educational levels to adapt in record time to an entirely online teaching. It was necessary to adapt content, materials and methodologies, maintaining the quality of teaching. Despite the fact that universities had various tools, such as their virtual platforms, which have improved student-teacher interaction and facilitate the management of resources and content, they were not prepared for such a drastic and significant change. However, the university community proved to be quickly adapted and moved on, and the update process entailed an opportunity to change towards a new, more active and student-centered teaching model. This communication presents the practical experience of a subject of construction materials of the degree in Technical Architecture of the Universitat Jaume I. It describes how the teaching was adapted during confinement and afterwards, how the experience improved the subject in a face-to-face or hybrid teaching model. The training in digital skills of the teaching staff, the new possibilities of communication with the students, or the new habits acquired have made it possible to improve the teaching-learning process, developing various activities to support face-to-face tasks, more attractive, interactive and motivating, which help students to improve their skills and learning outcomes.