With restrictions on movement shutting down schools and universities, online learning has emerged as a necessity rather than an alternative. The trend has quickly gained a foothold in the UAE thanks to high speed internet and availability of tech to access virtual classrooms.

Now that educational institutions are opening doors to students in the post pandemic era, innovative solutions developed during lockdowns are expected to enhance hybrid learning spaces. Highlighting the potential of e-learning in the Emirates, research has suggested that students in the country were able to perform better in exams ever since distance education took over.

The findings from Al Ain University showed that 49% students achieved grade points between 3.0 and 4.0 thanks to online lectures, as compared to 38% in case of face-to-face classes. Factors including limitless access to educational content via videos, ability to connect with fellow students overseas and flexible timings, seem to be responsible for the significant improvement.

But the researchers also warned that an increased scope to cheat on tests during online exams may also have a role to play in the growth. Earlier findings have pointed out that 21 times more cheating takes place while conducting exams remotely as compared to tests carried out in person.

The issue was highlighted in the Middle East during the pandemic, when Jerusalem's university insisted on students installing a software that filmed them during exams. Israeli students in Tel Aviv University were also required to allow inspection of their surroundings via zoom call.

As the authors expressed concerns about cheating, one of the researchers also mentioned limitations of conducting lectures virtually. She added that students could indicate difficulty in understanding a subject through body language in person, which could prompt a response from teachers.

This is why she maintained that at least 75% learning should take place via face-to-face interactions, since even teachers can find it difficult to effectively attend to more than 30 students via online platforms.