Abstract:

Collaboration and working together is the basis of an efficient learning. Global lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, rapidly changed standard and well known communication channels among all types of education. Rapidly without any further notice educational institutions and students has been put in the position when direct contact and collaboration is not possible any more and only electronic communication channels could enable continuation of educational effort. The impact of a new reality had a widespread effect starting from the change in relationship between a student and a lecturer where both were deprived of direct contact in the classroom, adjustment of knowledge sharing methods between parties and the last and not least the need for learning and using completely new tools and collaboration platforms, that enable new form of working together. In this situation educational institutions have faced a challenge in enriching educational experience, to enable students and lecturers to continue teaching and learning and at the same time to allow efficient collaboration within teams and individuals. The challenge of such situation was that none of those methods and tools were fully tested in case of supporting educational process in all the means so real recommendation what tools shall be used to support collaboration between lecturers and students were not proved by extended research in specific educational environment.

The observation of a new reality and challenges with proper knowledge sharing using digital media has encouraged authors to start the experiment with use of different communication platforms with various student groups to provide lectures and tutorials. It allowed make assessment based on proved user experience, what tools are seen by students as the most suitable to provide and receive remote lectures and tutorials. The two-step research included practical use of 4 popular collaboration platforms: Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Jitsi, Google Meet. After common use of defined communication platforms by the group of students, further research was carried on in form of a survey to assess the most suitable communication platforms. The research included comparison of use those tools prior epidemic and during epidemic period. The research covered following aspect of the user experience: ease of use, provided functionality and work comfort.

The research is focused on identification of the most important factors offered by the analyzed platforms from the perspective of efficiency and usability for remote learning. The conclusion of the research formulates recommendations on aspects are the most beneficial for educational use in case of remote learning.

Keywords:

User experience, remote learning, collaboration platforms, knowledge sharing.