“I have never attended any class with this novel method. Clear curriculum design and smooth expression of teachers bring me back to the feeling of an off-line classroom.” After the first “Air Class”, Wu Xinling, an international student staying at her hometown in Malaysia since the winter holiday, shared her exciting experience with her instructor.
“My parents witnessed the great efforts made by teachers and management staff of the University in innovating various methods to take care of the study and life of each student during the outbreak. They are surprised and moved by these efforts, and would like to extend their good wishes and thanks to the positive, optimistic and arduous Chinese people!” Norman, a senior student looking forward to becoming a doctor, said in South Africa.
On February 24, the “Air Class” for international students started for the first time to carry out the initiative of “Suspension of classes without suspension of learning”. International students back at home or staying in the University reflected the novelty of this class delivery method one after another. Under “Air Class”, students could interact with teachers, which has significantly enriched their lives during the outbreak.
“Warm-up” with COVID-19 Program for A Good Preparation for School Resumption
Under the outbreak, all Chinese people have worked as one heart to counter against the epidemic disease. The “Chinese Speed” keeps the world amazed, while the “Chinese Strength” constantly boosts the confidence of the people in the world. In order to strengthen the epidemic prevention education for international students, Wu Qiang, Dean of School of International Education, initiated the special “Warm-up” program with the theme of “Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19” with the duration of one week before the commencement of the on-line classes. Courses in the program include Viruses and Human Diseases, Keywords of Field Epidemiology: Take NCP as An Example, Pathology of Viral Pneumonia, Drug Therapy for COVID-19 and Mental Heath during the Outbreak. Five experts in the respective field of microbiology, epidemiology, pathology, pharmacology and psychology are brought together to deliver classes.
“The courses in the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 are open for all international students, including undergraduate students, postgraduate and doctoral students and credit exchange students. The courses are available in all countries and regions in the world. Currently, 205 international students of AHMU are in China and 213 are overseas, mainly inSouth Africa, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, etc., totally more than 20 countries. International students of AHMU in China shall attend on-line live classes. In consideration of the time differences, international students overseasmay watch the live classes or recorded classes.” said Wu Qiang.
During the outbreak, various experts, professors and teachers kept working on the battlefield of epidemic prevention and treatment. Some of them took the responsibility for the provincial research project on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, and some of them worked on the first line of the clinical prevention and control of the disease to escort the health of the people. Upon the receiving of the teaching task for international students, no one retreated from the mission. Instead, they worked overtime to prepare for the class, and get familiar with the techniques of on-line classes. They exerted all their efforts to enrich their heads and get prepared for the commencement of the “Air Class”.
Suspension of Classes without Suspension of Learning — Live Lessons Are Ongoing
To avoid peak time of the Internet, Wang Linding, a professor in microbiology, delivered his class at 7:00 in the evening of February 24 in the “Rain Classroom”, who helped the students learn about what the “enemy” really looked like from a professional perspective. The live classes of Wang Dinglin are very popular among students, acquiring 787 comments on the screen and 127 contributions to the class. He also arranged 11 random roll calls. With the interaction through screen comments and discussions, students expressed high enthusiasm in the class. It could be said that the students conducted zero-distance communication with the professor in the class. Students failing to watch the live class due to time difference watched the recorded class.
“To avoid network congestion, I selected the combined course delivery method of audio and PPT, facilitating students to learn at any time available. This is very convenient for international students.” Su Hong, a professor in epidemiology, analyzed and explained some key words in epidemiology based on the prevention and control progress of COVID-19. The course won high praise among students, and 329 students studied the course within one day.
Ye Yuanzi, a lecturer from Pathology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital, guided the students to study the first anatomy report aboutdead patients of COVID-19 released in the Lancet and delivered pathological knowledge about viral pneumonia. At the same time, he also elaborated the spreading route, clinical feature and prevention measures of COVID-19.
“Students participated in the on-line Q&A, and the correct rate was above 90%.” Huang Yan, a professor from the School of Pharmacy, introduced the drug therapy for COVID-19 and its latest research progress, and explained the application of Chinese medicine to the treatment of COVID-19. At the same time, she also publicized the measures and results of national prevention and control of the epidemic disease. Herlecture won universal praises among students.
Jiang Xiao, a lecturer from the Department of Psychology, analyzed the possible psychological stress of university students in front ofthis outbreak, and instructed some coping methods for such stress, including the daily health protection, healthy diet, and management of negative emotion. She also introduced some stress relaxing methods, like deep breath, butterfly beat relaxation techniques, etc. The contents of his lecture are well received by students.
The successful opening of the “Air Class” contributes zero-distance exchange opportunity with teachers for international students all over the world without leaving their home.
