Note: The statistics belong to Monday, April 21 - 16.00.

İstanbul Kültür University (İKÜ) Head of the Board of Trustees Dr. Bahar Akıngüç Günver answered the questions of Figen Atalay from Cumhuriyet newspaper. In an interview published in the April 21 issue of the newspaper, Dr. Bahar Akıngüç who said "In a time when everything is so difficult, students come first for me, not the grade," also said that "Children and young people are already going through an examination, a wonderful life test with the coronavirus. It is important not to complicate learning, to be able to give positive things."

The whole interview:

- What is distance education? What are the differences from face to face education?

Everyone has a definition, criticism and understanding of distance education that we developed based on our own experience. If you asked me the definition of distance education 25 years ago; I would say a teaching method in which knowledge is transferred to the student by television and radio. I would define the biggest difference with face to face education as the lack of student participation. If we get on a time machine and go 80 years ago, and ask my grandfather Halil Akıngüç who take the Turkish representative of Fernschule that provide education with letter in Germany, he would define it as a form of teaching by post.

If we asked for the difference, he would say, "There is no class, we translate the lecture notes for the student, so they work at home." However, at the point we have reached today, the definition of distance education has also evolved. In its simplest form, it is expressed as the type of instruction in which the learner and teacher interact through the internet and mobile devices in a virtual environment. But for me, as a user, distance education is the name of the 21st century people's experience of learning, understanding, questioning and thinking in a world without a surface area. With the solutions currently offered by technology, I can say that the difference between face-to-face education and distance education has come to a close point. In face-to-face education, there are two characters in the classroom: Learner and instructive. Unlike face to face education, distance education has the same purpose of 3 characters; A game that it serves to learn is now.

A SIMULTANEOUS DIALOGUE

- What methods are used in distance education? Positive and negative aspects? What is the most efficient distance learning method?

Education in distance learning divided into two titles. Synchronous (live lessons) and asynchronous lessons. You can think of asynchronously as a lesson from tape. Advantages; It depends on how you experience and interpret the distance education. If you can determine your needs correctly, you can establish a system that contributes with many points. I cannot give a very sharp example for the disadvantage, but there is a title that needs to be handled with precision, which is ethical. For example, protecting course registration materials as intellectual rights is an issue. On the other hand, technology has a panoptic aspect. It allows recording and reporting. However, the teacher-student relationship has its own immunity and privacy in the classroom environment. We are working diligently so that all this does not turn into a disadvantage. If we come to your question, “The most efficient method of distance education”… The definition of this depends on the method of the teacher, the student's expectation, the content of the course. However, in my opinion, the most efficient method is the one that allows students and teachers to establish simultaneous dialogue, that open and transparent communication solutions are used, that course efficiency, participation, measurement and evaluation can be done objectively.

- How many people should be in a virtual classroom? What should be the duration of a live virtual lesson?

It's hard to give a standard number. It is a system shaped according to the needs. In our solutions, the class size can be up to 100 students. I can say that the number of classes determines the course activity rather than technology. It can be long in applied courses and short in theoretical courses.

CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS

Faculty members complain that distance education is more difficult and tiring than face-to-face education. Is it correct? Why?

Distance learning is a new experience. It has a unique discipline understanding. However, it is necessary to approach with constructive solutions, not judgmental ones. One more point is that we need to give our academics a right and support them with new solutions, which are practical lessons that require a laboratory or workshop.

The effort of academicians in technical departments in architecture, engineering, health sciences, vocational schools is huge. This issue is currently on our agenda and we are about to transfer solutions that offer the easiest and most efficient method for our academicians in applied lesson efficiency in distance education.

THE ESSENTIAL THING IS STUDENT ACQUISITION

- How should measurement and evaluation be in distance education?

Assessment and evaluation is a very important subject, but the student attainment is essential. In an environment where the student is already concerned, not focusing on the grade, but focusing on their efficiency in this process. Assessment and evaluation is always a source of stress for the student. In a time when everything is so difficult, the student comes first for me, not a grade. Children and young people are already going through an examination, a great life test with the coronavirus. I think it is my priority to not compromise learning and to give positive things.

Assessment and evaluation; regardless of the method of education, have invariable principles, which are objective evaluation; transparency, methods and results are both explanatory and auditable. In the assessment and evaluation, appropriate solutions should be preferred according to the exam style of the academician, the necessity of the course and the area in which the student is trained to assess his/her knowledge in the best way. Especially in higher education, this subject is of vital importance because the assessment and evaluation of each specialization is different.

The World Health Organization has announced that COVID-19 is an anxiety and panic outbreak in all people worldwide. The reason for people to be worried and panic is that they are exposed to an epidemic or the possibility of getting infected with the virus poses a great threat to people.

COVID-19 first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The fact that the epidemic gave a great voice to the world has become an element of anxiety and fear for people. COVID-19 is described as a virus-related illness and causes complaints in individuals such as high fever, cough, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, anorexia, nausea and various body aches. This flu-like disease progresses more than flu and can even lead people to death. While young patients can overcome COVID-19 with mild symptoms, it is stated by experts that it has a chronic disease such as lung, diabetes and blood pressure and affects people over 65 years of age more. Considering that COVID-19 has a high spreading power and poses a life threat, this situation may cause fear and high anxiety.

- The most correct thing to do in the process of fighting the epidemic is to remind people that the situation is temporary.

- For the safety of relatives in the risk group of persons, they should not visit them for a while and pay attention to social isolation.

- You should not follow the news on social media, only accurate information should be obtained from reliable sources. (It will be more useful in this period to follow the correct information shared by the Ministry of Health.)

- Children should be informed by their parents about epidemic and ways to prevent epidemic, considering age, development and personal characteristics.

- Children should be protected from exposure to exaggerated or frightening news and comments on television or social media. It must be said that everything they hear on social media is not true.

- Excessive cleaning, hand washing, bathing, etc. Rituals should be avoided, only to ensure that necessary precautions are taken and that they are done adequately. (Excessive rituals can lead to the development of obsessive behavior.)

- Daily routines should be continued. Continuing daily routines will help both adults and children maintain a sense of order and purpose in their lives.

- Parents should be aware that being at home will benefit other people and instill the same awareness in children.

- In-home activities that could not be done before and could not be planned and implemented could be planned and implemented in this process.

- Communication within the family should be strengthened.

- It is also very important that parents arrange their children's screen time during this period.

- Parents should be ensured to be a model for their children by using the internet effectively and beneficially.

- It is necessary to check what children do on social media, and which pages they follow, especially during this period. It should be remembered that the news spread on social media will prepare the ground for the increase of children's anxiety.

- Parents can play different games with their children, read books together or watch movies and have conversations.

- Healthy eating should be paid attention and exercises should be done.

- Interaction with distant family members or friends should be continued. Communicating and sharing emotions can help reduce anxiety.

- Depending on the process, performing breathing exercises against the stress factor developing in the person can help control the stress.

- If the recommendations given in the process of COVID-19 are followed, if a situation such as sleeping problems, uncomfortable anxiety or showing behavioral problems are observed in adults or children, help from a specialist is absolutely necessary.

Students of Vocational School of Graphic Design Program created designs on the basis of volunteering in memory of the 100th anniversary of National Sovereignty. In the social responsibility project carried out with Karteks Textile, one of the designs will be chosen, and will be implemented on 20 thousand children's sweatshirts and T-shirts. These t-shirts will be distributed all over the Turkey in memory of the 100th anniversary of National Sovereignty. We congratulate all the students who attended and wish them continued social responsibility and success.

An e-conversation titled “Effective Communication” was held on Monday, April 20, at 12.00 in cooperation with the IKU CAC Club and the Communication Arts Department. In the event that the application are performed through the Adobe Connect virtual classroom, TAV Operations Services Inc. International Human Resources Manager Gülşah Yüksel Aktolga participated as a speaker. In the conversation where the importance of the concept of effective communication was emphasized, the concepts of "remote access" and "remote interaction" were conveyed to the students in detail during the difficult days and business life.

“It is Very Important to Produce and Survive in the Distance Working Process”

Aktolga, started his sentence with "It is very important to produce and survive in the process of working remotely." and then he said “It is always decisive to be a good listener and empathise with an effective communication.” Referring to the concepts of "crisis communication", "distance discipline" and "new business models" under the difficult conditions we are in, Aktolga said, "As remote working will become more widespread, many sectors will invest more to implement this discipline." He used those expressions.

“New Generation Makes Short-Term Plans in Career Journeys”

Answering the questions of the students participating in the event, Aktolga advised the young people at the beginning of their career and stated that career planning of the new generation is short-term, digital transformation and technological transformation trigger this process and freelance business models will become widespread. Aktolga stated that large plazas will be replaced by 'home-offices' with the effect of digitalization today.

 “Our Corporate Social Responsibility Studies Are Not Just in Difficult Days”

Gülşah Yüksel Aktolga, emphasizing the importance of helping and unity in the difficult process we are going through, said, “As an institution, our social responsibility efforts continue not only on difficult days, but on 365 days. In addition, we do not make any of our employees victim in COVID-19 days. We are behind them at all times and under all circumstances. ” She completed her words.

İstanbul Kültür University Vocational School organized an e-seminar titled “Hair and Care of Cabin Crews” on Monday, April 20. In the event where Lecturer Vildan Bayram from İstanbul Aydın University was a speaker, information about the hair and hand care of the cabin crews and their general appearance was shared. Stating how to make hair and hand care at home, Lecturer Bayram answered the questions of our students.

Istanbul Kültür University Vocational School organized an e-seminar titled “Introduction to Non-Financial Reporting: Integrated Reporting and Sustainability Reporting” on Monday, April 20. KPMG Sustainability Services Director Richard Betts, who attended the event as a speaker, explained that with the integrated reporting, the methods of creating value for the stakeholders of an organization are precisely reported and built around the organization's strategy to create and maintain value in the short, medium and long term. Along with the COVID-19 pandemic, Richard Betts drew attention to sustainable risks associated with ecological and climate crises. Answering our students' questions, Betts stated that sustainability is a business approach that creates long-term stakeholder value by managing risks and understanding opportunities through improving economic, environmental and social outcomes.

On Monday, April 20, İstanbul Kültür University (İKÜ) Vocational School (Vocational School) organized an e-seminar titled “Life Curve of Enterprises in Crisis and Uncertainty Situations” in which İbrahim Elibaşı, the Director of Information Commercialization Center (one of the affiliates of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce) was the guest. İbrahim Elbaşı answered the questions of our students by sharing his knowledge about important issues such as the changing dynamics of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the new world order, the increasing importance of intellectual capital, new generation business models, digital transformation in business models, new generation entrepreneurship and lean ventures. Our students learned about new dynamics and changing trends in the field of entrepreneurship.

Definite cases: Turkey (90,980), World (2,495,994)

Death:             Turkey (2140), World (171,255)

WHO Risk Assessment: Global level - Very High