The Role of Digital Innovation in E-Learning System for Higher Education during COVID 19: A New Insight from Pedagogical Digital Competence

The book chapter highlights the role of key technological drivers such as Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption, social IoT, and artificial intelligence in e-learning system along with the mediating role of pedagogical digital competence, computer self-efficacy, and moderating role of technostress and techno overload during the COVID-19 pandemic in a developing country like Pakistan. A total of 259 data samples were collected through survey questionnaires from the directorate of information technology of HEIs of Pakistan and analyzed using Partial Least Square -Structural Equation Modeling method (PLS-SEM). The results reveal that ICT adoption and social Internet of Things partially had a significant impact on pedagogical digital competence, computer self-efficacy, and e-learning systems. Likewise, ICT adoption has shown a significant impact on pedagogical digital competence, computer self-efficacy, and e-learning systems. The results also demonstrated that pedagogical digital competence mediates a significant relationship between ICT, social IoT, AI, and e-learning system but that computer self-efficacy partially mediates a significant relationship between ICT, social IoT, AI, and e-learning system. In the context of moderate impact, only technostress moderates the relationship between computer self-efficacy and e-learning system. The book chapter elaborated a unique theoretical concept in the context of the adoption of the technology for e-learning systems, such as key technology drivers in name of “ICT adoption, social IoT, artificial intelligence, pedagogical digital competence, computer self-efficacy, technostress, and techno overload, " during the times of the pandemic. These drivers work as a key technology driver’s tool kit in the e-learning system. The consequences of this research strongly suggest important guidelines for artificial intelligence designers, web developers, technology policymakers, information technology instructors, as well as researchers to deeply observe the main theme of distance learning or e-learning educational system, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of developing countries like Pakistan. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Muhammad Mujtaba Asad, Fahad Sherwani, Razali Bin Hassan, and Prathamesh Churi;individual chapters, the contributors.

Showcasing the internationally prioritized medicinal plants to counteract the pandemics – potential remedies for COVID-19 and other forms of SARS

Indigenous communities throughout the globe respond to COVID-19 by their traditional medicinal systems as primary health care. Our lab was part of an international study that discusses the outcomes of a rapid response, preliminary survey during the first phase of the pandemic among social and community contacts in five metropolises heavily affected by the COVID-19 health crisis (Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, New York, and Rio de Janeiro) and in twelve rural areas or countries initially less affected by the pandemic (Appalachia, Jamaica, Bolivia, Romania, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia, Turkey, Pakistan, Cambodia, and South Africa). Primarily, people have relied on teas and spices (“food-medicines”) to prevent and mitigate its symptoms. Urban diasporas and rural households seem to have repurposed homemade plant-based remedies that they use on daily basis to treat the flu and other respiratory problems and hence consider among the healthy foods. The most remarkable shift in many areas has been increased in the consumption of ginger and garlic, followed by onion, turmeric, lemon, chamomile, black tea, nettle, chili pepper, and apple. This study serves as a baseline for future systematic ethnobotanical studies countering COVID-19 and other vicious types of viruses. It aims to inspire in-depth research on how use patterns of plant-based foods and beverages, both “traditional” and “new,” are changing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our reflections in this study call attention to the importance of ethnobiology, ethnomedicine, and ethno-gastronomy research into domestic health care strategies for improving community health. Some of these economically important plants are suggested to be extensively analyzed experimentally, for active ingredients, phytochemicals, and the precursor of vaccines and probable remedy of SARS including COVID-19. © Pakistan Academy of Sciences.

The role of digital learning toward students' satisfaction and university brand image at educational institutes of Pakistan: a post-effect of COVID-19

Purpose: This study is undertaken to examine the role of information and communication technology (ICT), e-service quality and e-information quality towards brand image of universities by concentrating on students’ e-learning, e-word of mouth and satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach: The target population was the students of public and private universities in Pakistan. Data collected using an e-questionnaire by 408 students were subjected to PLS-SEM for analysis. Findings: Findings revealed that ICT, e-service quality and e-information quality are positively contributed toward students' e-learning which ultimately leads to create positive e-word of mouth and students' satisfaction. Meanwhile, results also identified that e-word of mouth and students' satisfaction lead to generate a positive brand image of universities. Practical implications: This study has unique implications for universities to develop an e-learning platform to facilitate their students in this situation of COVID-19. It provides guidelines for educational institutions to implement the learning management system effectively with a view to facilitate the students with education. Originality/value: This study has novel contribution in literature in the domain of digital learning. It is unique in a way to integrate the usage of technology with students' e-learning and satisfaction that ultimately create brand image of universities. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.