What We Learned from the Abrupt Switch to Online Teaching Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Post-secondary Computer Science Program

ABSTRACT

Online learning has been extensively researched, and online educators have a wealth of resources to build upon. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were forced to abruptly convert course delivery from face-to-face to online. To make matters worse, this occurred in the middle of the semester, and the majority of us were not prepared - the majority of us had never taught online, nor have we received the required training to do so. This abrupt change also made it challenging for students which, in turn, posed additional challenges for educators, especially in relation to navigating student expectations. Unlike students who sign up for an online course, these students were also caught unaware by the switch, and online learning was new to most of them. We reflect upon this experience, paying special attention to the challenges associated with the discipline of Computer Science as well as those faced by teaching assistants. The COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end, but this change to education will stay with us. Hence, we share the lessons we learned.