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On March 3, 2021, the Language Research Center hosted a webinar during which Dr. Sarwat Un Nisa delivered a presentation titled "Challenges of Online Classes and Strategies to Overcome Them". The talk was rooted in various research studies on the subject.

Dr. Sarwat began by acknowledging the abrupt shift from traditional face-to-face learning to distance learning that has posed numerous challenges for ELT instructors worldwide. One of the significant hurdles, she noted, pertains to managing virtual classrooms, which requires a different approach compared to in-person instruction.

The presentation was divided into three key segments: an exploration of online pedagogy, a discussion of the challenges students face and possible strategies for overcoming these, and the obstacles encountered by instructors along with potential solutions.

Citing Pelz (2009), Dr. Sarwat stated that learning tends to be more effective when students actively engage in class activities. She described interactivity as the crux of effective asynchronous learning. While outlining online pedagogy, she first highlighted the role of technology as a tool, emphasizing that successful online learning starts with the purposeful application of instructional design principles. She also stressed the importance of simplicity in technology. If the tech becomes too complex, teachers might end up using valuable class time to explain it, thus impacting the learning process.

She then touched upon the concept of alignment, which refers to the congruence between course content, assessments, and learning objectives. She further discussed the ease of course design and navigation, and the use of hyperlinks and regular announcements to aid learners. Emphasizing the need for clear expectations and directions for activities and assessments, she noted that students should understand the trajectory of their learning journey. Finally, she underscored the importance of maintaining a visible instructor presence, which can be achieved through regular communication between instructors and students.

In the context of teacher-student interaction, Dr. Sarwat asserted that prompt responses to student inquiries can significantly enhance interaction. She also discussed aspects such as student-to-content interaction, multimedia principles, repeated interactions with the same content, academic honesty, authentication of student work, and ways to support students.

She further touched upon technical issues and their potential solutions. Concluding her presentation, she shared some strategies that students could adopt to navigate the challenges of online learning successfully.

The webinar, marked by active participation from faculty members and graduate students, was a resounding success.