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. 2023 May 26;9(6):e16675.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16675. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Digital transformation in higher education: A qualitative evaluative study of a hybrid virtual format using a smart classroom system

Josep Petchamé  1 , Ignasi Iriondo  1 , Oihane Korres  2 , Jessica Paños-Castro  2
Affiliations

Digital transformation in higher education: A qualitative evaluative study of a hybrid virtual format using a smart classroom system

Josep Petchamé et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

This study presents the salient perceptions of students and instructors in a master's program taught in a hybrid virtual format using the pocket Bipolar Laddering tool, a written open-ended electronic data collection system. Perceptions about the hybrid virtual format were tested on the participants of a master's program taught in the 2021-2022 academic year through a hybrid virtual format based on a Smart Classroom system developed as part of the digital innovations implemented to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. This work aims to shed light on the users' salient perceptions of the format, detect the positive elements mentioned by the surveyed participants and identify the negative items in a bid to minimize, or even revert, their effects for future editions of the master. As expected, the findings suggest that one of the main advantages of this format is that it allows students who have difficulty attending classes on campus to enroll on courses. However, the participants detected diverse elements that could be improved such as interaction, the degree of socialization, or the technical problems that arose during teaching sessions. It is hoped that these findings will be of use when adjusting new editions of the program and will help to determine the design and implementation of other hybrid virtual programs in the Institution.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Digital transformation; Face-to-face; Higher education; Hybrid Virtual format; Information and communication technologies; Smart classroom; Videoconferencing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Front view of a Smart Classroom at La Salle-URL Campus: smart board, sound system, camera, and TV.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Back view of a Smart Classroom at La Salle-URL: sound system, robotized camera, and TV.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Hybrid virtual format: An instructor imparting a class session.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Bipolar Laddering (BLA): key features of the tool.
Fig. A1
Fig. A1
Pocket BLA: Template in an excel format to be fulfilled by the participants about their experience once completed the Master in User Experience.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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