A Shift with a Twist: Transforming Experiences of Teaching and Learning Music Online

Abstract

Most of the teaching and learning in the performing and visual arts subjects occur in traditional classroom settings with face-to-face instruction methods, but the University of Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA) swiftly switched the delivery of all undergraduate courses to an online format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar to other universities in Sri Lanka, the UVPA started using modern technology and tools like Zoom and a Learning Management System to conduct online instruction and learning during the COVID-19 period. The purpose of this study was to understand how academic staff and students felt about teaching and learning Music online. A case study approach was used as the method for this investigation. An online questionnaire was used to collect feedback on their online learning experiences from a sample size of 425 students comprising third and fourth year undergraduates of Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music). Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect feedback from randomly selected eight academic staff members from the Faculty of Music in the 2018/2019 academic year, at the UVPA. Responses revealed that most teaching staff were new to teaching online but have managed to learn strategies for teaching online and have improved their technical and pedagogical skills in a short period of acting under compulsion. It was found that the student participants have also developed their knowledge and skills in online learning. All participants have indicated their willingness to engage in technology-enhanced online teaching and learning in the future as a result of these transformative experiences.