Abstract:

Online education is by no means a new concept. During the last year, however, online education has become the only viable solution in the face of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Objectives:
This study analyses the characteristics of online education in universities, highlighting the problems that have emerged since its adoption, in comparison to the time when it was only an optional solution. We present ways to evaluate the quality of didactic activities using this method of teaching and ways of solving the unique problems that arise with it.

Methodology:
In order to supplement our own personal experience as professors, after one year of online teaching, we have conducted a survey within the University Politehnica of Bucharest, among teachers and students, in order to identify the main problems they have experienced regarding online teaching.
In order to evaluate the problems of online education and the proposed solutions, we use an original method, combining instruments of analysis specific to the field of Quality Engineering. We use Ishikawa Diagrams in order to better visualize the most important shortcomings of the system. We combine this with SWOT analysis, in order to better understand the strong and weak points of the system, to know what we can improve and what can be put to better use. QFD (Quality Function Deployment) helps us analyze the solutions that we propose and identify how they work together in order to improve the system as a whole. FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) helps us analyze potential failure points of the system and the effects of these failures, were they to occur.

Results:
After careful analysis, we have determined several key solutions that draw on the strong points of the system, but also have the greatest potential to improve on its weaknesses. We have determined the three most important problems regarding online education to be the ease of cheating, the inability to cater to the individual needs of each student and the lack of resources for self-study. We have proposed solutions to these problems and discussed their impact on the educational system as a whole.

Conclusions:
Given that online education has many benefits, we have analyzed its strong and weak points and we have proposed solutions that can make it better suited to the unique challenges that we are facing. This way, it has the potential to supplement or even replace traditional teaching after the pandemic is over.

Keywords:

online education,quality engineering,pandemic