Rahimi, D.I., Zilka, C.G., Finkelstein, I., & Cohen, R. Use of digital tools and digital learning skills on multicultural higher education campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Israel Affairs. (Q1) 

 

With the outbreak of the pandemic, the institutions of higher education organized themselves in real-time to continue studies online. The research question was: What digital tools and skills were used during the pandemic, and was these tools and skills suited to students from different sectors with different characteristics? This was a mixed-method study. Participants were 639 Israeli students, of whom 92 students were from the general sector of secular, religious, and traditional Jews (16.1%), 122 from the ultra-orthodox sector (21.4%), and 356 from the Arab sector (62.5%). The students reported that the most frequently used digital tools were synchronous lectures via Zoom (approx. 88%) and the use of the course website (approx. 80%). The extensive use of synchronous lectures can be explained as a substitute for face-to-face lectures, integrating tools and activities. Some external tools were used, such as a collaborative wall and interactive questionnaires, in addition to the built-in tools that Zoom itself offers, such as breakout rooms, surveys, and so forth. No significant differences were found across the sectors. The study findings show that a large number of the students managed to cope with online learning, despite cultural differences.