Abstract
This study reflects on the experiences of students and instructors on the online international exchange program at a Japanese university during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a mixed methods approach incorporating both survey and interview data, I report on student and instructor perceptions and reflections of distance learning experiences of courses held online at a Japanese university and a university in Australia. In 2020, Japanese educational institutions suddenly faced the problem of adapting to distance learning to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, or face suspending classes indefinitely. Implementing effective lessons, navigating student expectations and adapting to the changes in performance while negotiating with institutions became primary concerns of instructors during this challenging time. The results of the study discuss findings concerning meeting student needs, the use of distance learning during this time including the use of in-house LMSs, active learning implementation, student reactions to online study abroad, and call for additional educational resources that can support instructors in preparing, designing, and conducting online courses. Based on these reflections and analysis, I propose future suggestions for study abroad programs that incorporate online courses on a need basis. As there is an increased number of online international training programs, online internships, remote work, and online study abroad experience can be even beneficial for students. It is now time to think beyond the form of solely physical study abroad experiences. While the online study abroad program is not a replacement of a study abroad experience, it is a crucial experience for the current generation moving forward with their academic and professional career.
Author Information
Marshall Klassen, Hokkaido University, Japan
Paper Information
Conference: WorldCALL2023
Stream: Distance / Online Learning
This paper is part of the WorldCALL2023 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Klassen M. (2024) Assessing Online Study Abroad: Assessing Japanese University Students’ Online Study Abroad and the Future of Study Abroad Post-Corona ISSN: 2759-1182 – WorldCALL2023: Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2759-1182.2023.24
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2759-1182.2023.24
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