Table 1.
Differences between pandemic and typical distance education.
| Theme | Criteria | Available in Traditional Distance Education? | Available in Pandemic-Related Distance Education? | Supporting References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agreement | It is agreed upon by all parties (the institution, teacher and learner) | ✓ | ✗ | [4] |
| Means | It can involve both online and offline communication, not exclusively online | ✓ | ✗ | [5] |
| Choice | One has an option, to enrol for face-to-face or distance education | ✓ | ✗ | [6] |
| Alternative | It replaces and eliminates face-to-face education | ✗ | ✓ | [7] |
| Time | It must be full-time at the school level | ✗ | ✓ | [8] |
| Major | It involves all science and social science degrees | ✗ | ✓ | [9] |
| Course | It involves more types of courses: theoretical, practical, etc. | ✗ | ✓ | [10] |
| Needs | It includes those with special needs | ✓ | ✗ | [11] |
| Psychology | One is previously prepared psychologically | ✓ | ✗ | [12] |
| Quantity | Globally, the number of enrolled students is exceptional | ✗ | ✓ | [13] |
| The media | It has a great media presence | ✗ | ✓ | [14] |
| Technicians | Technicians have a unique societal value; considered ‘enterprise rescuers’ | ✗ | ✓ | [14] |
| Fee | Education that is free offline remains free when going online | ✗ | ✓ | [15] |
| Readiness | Institutions (and states) adopt it, regardless of readiness | ✗ | ✓ | [16] |
| Care | Learners are more serious and interested | ✓ | ✗ | [17] |
| Sponsorship | It can be well sponsored by governments | ✓ | ✗ | [15] |
| Age Cohort | It is restricted to university levels and, thus, to certain ages | ✓ | ✗ | [18] |
| Parents | Students seek help from or depend on parents, who have direct roles | ✗ | ✓ | [19] |
| Scarcity | It is a temporary solution and takes place only for a short time | ✗ | ✓ | [11] |
| Discourse | It occupies people's conversations, including the youth | ✗ | ✓ | [20] |
| Family | Families are engaged in the education in which their children are enrolled | ✗ | ✓ | [21] |
| Admin | One enrols while being aware of the decision | ✓ | ✗ | [8] |
| Beforehand | Learners know how assessment and examination will take place | ✓ | ✗ | [22] |
| Gender | Women may not be allowed to teach online | ✓ | ✗ | [15] |
| Logistics | One's enrolment is consistent with one's financial budget (e.g. computers) | ✓ | ✗ | [23] |
| Preparation | Students, teachers and administrators are (e.g. pedagogically) prepared | ✓ | ✗ | [24] |
| Social Class | It is open to the various social groups | ✗ | ✓ | [25] |
| Plan | It is pre-planned | ✓ | ✗ | [26] |
| System | It is a comprehensive system, from objectives to examination methods | ✓ | ✗ | [21] |
| Infrastructure | It entails an administrative and technical infrastructure | ✓ | ✗ | [27] |
| Defence | It involves a defensive, responsive, protective system | ✗ | ✓ | [7] |
| Research | It is well studied | ✓ | ✗ | [28] |
| Exam | Exams can be face-to-face | ✓ | ✗ | [29] |
| Curricula | Curricula are initially designed to be delivered online | ✓ | ✗ | [22] |
| Instruction | It achieves the minimum level of instruction | ✗ | ✓ | [30] |
| Priority | It has priority over face-to-face education | ✗ | ✓ | [31] |
| Politics | It is politicised and carries political intentions | ✗ | ✓ | [32] |
| Methods | Teaching means and methods are limited | ✗ | ✓ | [33] |
| Pressure | Administrative and organisational decisions are made under pressure | ✗ | ✓ | [5] |
| F-2-F Meeting | One can physically meet one's teacher if desired | ✓ | ✗ | [33] |