زهرا ملامحمدعلیان مهریزی

INTRODUCTION: Virtual education and learning exert diverse effects on courses of different natures. Moreover, considering that the prime goal pursued by universities of applied sciences and technology is to focus on skills enhancement, the method of presentation, and the tools used. The teaching method should be designed appropriately and evaluated in terms of effectiveness. The current research, focusing on the effect of virtual education on practical and theoretical courses, seeks to assess the impact of virtual education on the achievement of the goals of the University of Applied Sciences and technology during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Applied Science Higher Education Institute Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: This applied research was conducted based on a descriptive-survey design. The data collection tools were information and data, library resources, and a researcher-made questionnaire. FINDINGS: Based on the results and the means obtained for each item, holding question and answer sessions with the highest number of good and very good items ranked first. On the other hand, uploading videos and photos to the system and providing links to related resources ranked in last place. CONCLUSION: According to the experience of virtual education in recent years following the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of hybrid methods, including online and face-to-face teaching, is recommended for teaching in skill-oriented higher education centers.

INTRODUCTION: The achievement of organizational goals depends on the ability of employees to perform the assigned tasks and adapt to the changing environment. The implementation of training and improvement of human resources allow people to effectively continue their activities and increase their efficiency in accordance with organizational and environmental changes. The present study aimed to assess the impact of information and communication technology on self-directed learning among Employees at the Red Crescent Society of Tehran. METHODS: This research was applied-descriptive and survey-type. The statistical population of the current research included all 1800 employees at the Red Crescent Society of Tehran. Based on Cochran's formula, 317 subjects were selected by simple random sampling and answered the questionnaires. To check the variables of the research, a 73-item questionnaire was used, which assesses the two variables of information and communication technology and self-directed learning. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts' opinions, and its reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha method. Research hypotheses were tested by structural equation modeling using LISREL software. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to measure the indicators of the questionnaire, and the model of path coefficients and significant coefficients was applied to examine the hypotheses. FINDINGS: The results of the analyses demonstrated that information and communication technology and each dimension of using computers, media (radio and television), the Internet, educational software, and mobile phones had a significant positive effect on self-control, willingness to learn, and self-management among the employees at Red Crescent Society of Tehran. CONCLUSION: In every organization, the management must make sure that the employees recognize the importance of learning since it is a key factor in the success of the organization. It is necessary for the management of every organization to remove mental models and old beliefs and, considering the role of information technology in learning and creating transformations in learning methods, provide the grounds for its application among employees.