Deep Winter



White sky blue earth

a road of wind hard as stone between them

the sun swings his walking stick as he strolls
across the boulevards of February

a small bird wings to a rain gutter
sleeved in snow
or perhaps it was only a mirage

a child sits at a window
making faces at an impending storm
it does not believe in blizzards

but it loves them

you hold my love like a globe of ice
where a soul once would have been

no the winter sovereign in your mind
will never become my final hope for spring

____

Christopher Bernard is an award-winning poet, novelist and essayist. His most recent books are the first two stories in the series “Otherwise,” for middle-grade readers: If You Ride A Crooked Trolley . . .  and The Judgment Of Biestia.

The Police Questionnaire 
--------------------
Someone I know
is trying to join
the police force.

I know
I feel the same
way too
but I really love
this person.

I was asking them
how the first online
interview went.

'It's just like a kind
of questionnaire
sort of thing.
What would you do
in certain circumstances'

Me, being a natural
piss taker said;

You come across a
gang of white men
standing around, 
and a black man
on the floor, bleeding.

Who do you arrest ?

If you answered

The black man.

Welcome to the police.

February first
peanut butter sandwiches
for dinner tonight


—


weary of winter
my tongue goes to the space where
my teeth used to be


—


I’ve just missed the bus
I can walk home by the time
the next one arrives


—


bio/graf

J. D. Nelson’s poems have appeared in many publications, worldwide, since 2002. He is the author of ten print chapbooks and e-books of poetry, including *Cinderella City* (The Red Ceilings Press, 2012). Nelson’s first full-length collection is *in ghostly onehead* (Post-Asemic Press, 2022). Visit his website, MadVerse.com, for more information and links to his published work. His haiku blog is at JDNelson.net. Nelson lives in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

First of all, here’s an announcement! Regular Synch Chaos contributor, poet Taylor Dibbert, has a newly released collection of his poetry, Invictus, available for purchase.

Also, past contributor Areg Azatyan’s novel The Flying African has just been released from Frayed Edge Press! Translated from the Armenian by Nazareth Seferian, the book follows the journey of an unnamed traveler, a young Armenian writer who spends fifty-four adventurous days in Africa, one day in each of the continent’s countries.

We are also hosting a free public literary reading in conjunction with the Association of Writing Programs conference next month in Kansas City, MO. This will be at 6pm on the evening of February 7th at Prospero’s Books. All are welcome to come and hear the readers!

Now for this month’s issue: The Ecosystem of Ideas.

Terry Trowbridge probes the intricate world of pillbugs under the ground while Don Bormon looks into the hardworking and cohesive colonies of ants.

Gulsevar Xojamova draws on the rainbow as a symbol of natural beauty and urges her country’s people to embrace the beauty and pride of Uzbekistan.

Sayani Mukherjee relates the “touch and go” nature of winter, when nature is not all dormant, but awaiting a streak of warm and dry enough weather. Azemina Krehic evokes the bitter, sucking, deathly cold of winter wind and snow. Meanwhile, Uzbek writer Nosirova Gavhar regales us with the beauty of nature and her country’s folk traditions in the spring.

Brian Barbeito suggests that woodland ecosystems should be considered a living thing in their own right, not simply the sum of living species. Ali Akramov looks into the effects flooding has on mountain geology and ecosystems.

Jerry Langdon’s poetry bridges the worlds of nature and culture as he writes of the destruction wreaked by fire, lightning, and a slow-burn romantic breakup. Mahbub Alam continues in that vein by drawing on the language of marriage to express a human union with the natural world, while Mahmudul Hasan Fahim explores the emotional, ecological, and social ramifications of different cultural funerary customs.

Z.I. Mahmud explores how poets Mary Oliver and William Blake reflect the inextricable unity of humans and nature through their Romantic and spiritual poetry.

Sayani Mukherjee‘s poetry explores the world of Paris, New York and London while Mark Young humorously compares himself to pop culture icons of past and present and Odina Rustamjonova looks into the strengths and weaknesses of the mass transit systems within Uzbekistan. Maja Milojkovic highlights a little-known cultural and linguistic connection between Tunisian Arabs and Serbians.

Isabel Gomez de Diego sends up a mix of personal and grandiose moments of contemplation and holiday celebration.

Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa highlights the value of personal development, urging us to take the daily steps to prepare our hearts and lives to be ready for extraordinary moments of grace.

Nafisa Abralova’s drama highlights the importance of education, discipline, and responsibility for children under our care while Charos Toshpulatova traces the development of the idea of and legal precedent for the rights of children.

John Mellender addresses growing up, laying aside or recognizing the limitations of one’s youthful idealism. Muhammed Aamir evokes a future world where we can regenerate our loved ones with the help of technology. John Edward Culp envisions his future great-grandchildren eating together and showing concern for each other in the same park where he’s doing the same for his loved one.

J.J. Campbell mixes a bit of nostalgia and anachronism in his monthly pieces on loneliness and despair, as he’s “playing jazz in a world of heavy metal.” Saad Ali mixes together history, poetic device, and love in his variety of experimental pieces.

Kristy Raines speaks to the emotional connection of true love while Ifora Bahramova paints a simple domestic scene of love between a mother and her young children. Ari Nystrom-Rice evokes childhood playground memories in his poem on the loss of a close friendship.

Safarova Zarnigor analyzes a delicate poem from Faynberg about love lasting over time while Sevinch Saidova relates the story of a man who struggles with addiction and health issues and the family who loves him unconditionally. Oona Haskovec reflects on her loneliness and desire for caring friendship, staring at her hands while eating alone in her kitchen.

Oaoao Pbobo reminds us of the joy of learning to read and write and the doors it can open for us. Nigora Tursunboyeva explores the depths of poetry and emotional resonance within the work of Uzbek children’s author Khudoyberdi Tokhtabayev. Aziza Umurzakova highlights the role preschool and young children’s education can play in a healthy nation.

Diyora Bakhodirovna outlines how new educational technologies may enhance student learning.

Nozima Baxtiyorova suggests that the technology used to continue children’s education during Covid-19 could be extended for their benefit as the pandemic lessens. Malika Kaxarova explores linguistic figures of speech and the role they play in cognition and the field of cognitive linguistics.

Mahbuba Juraboyeva outlines the importance of proper and professional speech to the legal profession while Bahora Baxtiyorova celebrates an important business leader in Uzbekistan who harnesses modern social media methods for communication and advertising. Elmaya Jabbarova honors the power, dignity, and beauty of her homeland of Azerbaijan while Faleeha Hassan conjures through her words a fanciful street scene complete with fish vendors and confetti and sandstorms and J.D. Nelson’s five monostichs hint at imagined vignettes from daily life.

Dilnoza Ochildiyeva outlines the history and heritage of her Uzbek homeland while Maftuna Imamova discusses strategies for enhancing Uzbekistan’s economic position in world markets.

Mesfakus Salahin dreams of a more peaceful and compassionate world in the future while Anila Bukhari illustrates how girls should be allowed education and freedom.

John Grochalski speaks to the many small and larger ways we assert our independence and existence as individuals. Skye Preston crafts a flash Gothic-esque sketch where a young woman vows not to take after her parents, and we find out why.

Sabrid Jahan Mahin points out the mysteries still unknown about how our brains work, although they are the strongest problem-solving force we have. The San Francisco Ballet’s new show Mere Mortals, here reviewed by Christopher Bernard, explores the Greek myth of Pandora and the fine line between human exploration and empowerment and human selfishness and evil.

Chimezie Ihekuna challenges himself to reconsider conventional wisdom in his frustrating search for truth. As for truth, Dr. Abdul Awal explores scientific, philosophical, and spiritual insights found within the Koran. Graciela Noemi Villaverde presents a protagonist whose heart has hardened because he no longer listens to the tender muse of compassion, mystery and poetry, while Mirta Liliana Ramirez depicts a heart that regenerates after repeated emotional destruction.

Bill Tope relates the tale of a courageous woman who rises up from near-devastation and solves her own rape, while Doug Hawley ponders whether the same person can handle the public and “beautiful” aspects of art and the more practical and business oriented features in his piece on two twin sisters.

Peter Cherches explores identity, plagiarism, the bounds of self-expression and alter egos in his short story that looks into what it can take to make it as a writer. Duane Vorhees renders the act of writing into something physical, dragging words and thoughts and other substances across the page.

Joshua Martin reviews Irene Koronas’ new collection gnostos, which plumbs the depths of a plethora of connected areas of knowledge and thought. He also covers Daniel Y. Harris’ new book The Metempsychosis of Salvador Dracu, which also merges human thought in the form of code and in poetry and illustrates the permeability of our concepts of personhood.

Jim Meirose also suggests an interplay of the biological and astrobiological and linguistic in his short story while Alma Ryan’s speaker dances through a portal into an artist’s dream of beauty and precarity, where paper figures live and die among splashes of paint.

James Whitehead speculates on how concepts and language itself could become a prized economic good fought over by villages and nations.

Ahmad Al-Khatat talks of how he would give up much, but not his hard-won life experience from surviving war. Meanwhile, Norman J. Olson addresses the futility of armed conflict.

Mykyta Ryzhykh speculates on “graves without flowers” – the unremembered dead – and on “flowers without graves” – the potential of celebrations without death – and mourns the loss of human and even animal dignity in alienating modern life and warfare.

Jacques Fleury addresses the inherent systemic racism of being loved as a brand who can perform and make money for others, not as a person.

Daniel De Culla denigrates fascism wherever it may arise: Spain, Argentina, Italy, or the United States.

Biloldin Mahmudov outlines diplomatic etiquette, instructing aspiring diplomats while at the same time granting grace and dignity to the role.

Stephen Jarrell Williams expresses hope for humanity’s and Earth’s future through his science-fiction poetry.

Michael Robinson speaks to the personal, spiritual and physical renewal he found after surviving open heart surgery. Annie Johnson also delves within the individual psyche, tracing a dream journey.

Kholida Toirjonova reflects on how one day she will leave behind those who may or may not properly mourn her, and it will no longer matter.

Salomova Dilfuza brings up the brevity of life and urges us to make the most of our limited time, while Sevinch Erkinova doesn’t regret a moment of her life, joyful or sorrow-filled.

Thank you very much for reading this month’s first issue of Synchronized Chaos. We hope that you do not regret even one minute of your read, and we encourage you to comment on the submissions and engage in dialogue with the authors and artists.

New York


Merriment of London walks
Sunshines of New York
The latte amore, my Paris
I bespoke every little detail
With my buckets in hand

I go down a little
Like white swans in 
Deep blue lakes
My overarching newly molten 
Blues 
My guitar friends like those
Who know how to tune
Into a little merriment
My forever Paris in his hand 
Lakes Cities Sheds Apple branches
Spread everywhere
Like a little kid 
She got her cake a blueberry almond pie
My London walking in evenings
Forevermore in bejewelled spectacle

I go up now
In New York
Amidst thousands hand clappings 
I found home
A little louder 
A little bird her squeaky quick
The little blueberry muffins
Understanding
London the pink world
My one day in London. 

WAYS OF PROMOTING UZBEKISTAN’S FOREIGN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN WORLD MARKETS

Maftuna Imamova A’zamjon qizi

UWED, IEM faculty, 1st year student

maftunaimomova07@gmail.com

+998977546445

        Abstract: This article is based on elucidating the measures aimed at the further development of Uzbekistan’s foreign economic activity and its leading positions in world markets. Today, carrying out innovative foreign economic activity is one of the main criteria for every country. Nowadays, it is no exaggeration to say that the place of Uzbekistan in the world markets is incomparable. In order to further develop it, it is necessary to pay attention to certain factors.

         Key words: Foreign economic activity, world market, foreign trade policy, free trade, protectionism, export, import, diversification, international trade.

       Foreign economic activity consists in being able to conduct economic relations in world markets and thereby develop the economy of one’s country. The basis of foreign economic activity is the right foreign trade policy.

      Foreign trade policy is a form of macroeconomic policy, which is a set of measures to regulate the volume of foreign trade of the state through trade restrictions. Foreign trade policy can be divided into free trade and protectionism according to the state’s level of intervention in foreign trade. The free trade relationship, as its name implies, reflects trade that develops freely, that is, on the basis of supply and demand, with minimal government intervention.

      Protectionism is a state policy aimed at protecting the domestic market from foreign competitors through the use of tariffs and notary measures. There are more than 50 types of foreign trade restriction methods. Some of them are aimed at filling the state treasury, some are aimed at limiting imports in general, and still others are aimed at limiting or encouraging exports. In practice, tariff and notary methods of foreign trade regulation are used. Tariff methods include the introduction of import and export duties, notarial methods include giving subsidies to exporters and producers, quotas, licensing and other types.[1]

     Protectionism – restrictive measures in foreign trade, have a short-term effect. In the long run, only a free trade economy will allow efficient use of resources.     Free trade can be beneficial from the point of view of the global economy, but from the point of view of the interests of individual countries, free trade is not always beneficial.

     In order for Uzbekistan to occupy one of the top positions in the world markets, it must produce the quality of the goods and services it produces in accordance with world standards, saturate the domestic market with all goods as much as possible, and only then export them, import goods and it can try to create services in itself and thereby increase exports compared to imports, and as a result, it is possible to increase the balance of the trade balance. Through this, it is possible to establish strong economic relations with many countries of the world.

      International trade in world markets is very important for every country, especially for Uzbekistan. Because it is the basis of the global economy, and having international trade partners in the world market helps the country’s economy to develop further. The importance of international trade is very important for every country because the development of this country is closely related to its status in the international arena. If we analyze this situation in the example of Uzbekistan in Table 1 below, the volume of foreign trade turnover of Uzbekistan in 2021 increased by 7 times compared to 2000. The volume of exports increased 5 times over 21 years, while the volume of imports increased 8.6 times during this period. The increase in the volume of imports was not due to the decrease in the volume of exports, but due to the increase in the entry of equipment, equipment, and technology to expand production. This situation can be considered a positive situation for economic development.

     It can be seen that the geography of foreign trade has diversified over the years, the share of the CIS countries and the countries of the European Union and South-East Asia in the composition of exports and imports has also increased. Foreign trade with the CIS countries increased by almost 7 times, while with other countries it increased by 6.7 times.

Foreign trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan[2]
Indicators	2000	2005	2010	2015	2020	2021
million US dollars: Foreign trade turnover	6 212,1	9 500,1	22 199,2	24 924,2	36 256,1	42 170,5
export	3 264,7	5 408,8	13 023,4	12 507,6	15 102,3	16 662,8
import	2 947,4	4 091,3	9 175,8	12 416,6	21 153,8	25 507,7
trade balance	317,3	1 037,0	3 847,6	91,0	-6 051,5	-8 844,9
including: with the CIS countries	2 297,8	3 403,4	9 369,2	9 548,9	11 826,4	15 920,4
export	1 172,2	1 722,6	5 647,7	5 230,3	4 106,4	5 433,8
import	1 125,6	1 680,8	3 721,5	4 318,6	7 720,0	10 486,6
trade balance	46,6	41,8	1 926,2	911,7	-3 613,6	-5 052,8
With other countries	3 914,3	6 096,7	12 830,0	15 375,3	24 429,6	26 250,1
export	2 092,5	3 686,2	7 375,7	7 277,3	10 995,8	11 229,0
import	1 821,8	2 410,5	4 545,3	8 098,0	13 433,8	15 021,1
trade balance	270,7	1 275,7	1 921,4	-820,7	-2 437,9	-3 792,1
Compared to last year, in %: Foreign trade turnover	97,9	109,6	104,7	90,5	86,8	116,3
export	100,9	111,5	110,6	92,3	86,5	110,3
import	94,8	107,2	97,2	88,8	87,1	120,6
including: with the CIS countries	128,2	113,3	117,0	79,0	81,8	134,6
export	119,3	112,7	144,0	77,2	65,9	132,3
import	139,0	114,0	91,0	81,2	93,8	135,8
With other countries	86,0	107,6	97,2	99,6	89,5	107,5
export	92,9	110,9	94,0	107,4	98,0	102,1
import	79,2	102,9	102,0	93,5	83,6	111,8

      In order for Uzbekistan to enter the world markets and occupy high places, it is desirable to have an effective strategy that illuminates excellent foreign economic activity. For this, a perfect strategy can be presented by analyzing several factors. We would like to pay special attention to the following important factors.

    1. Providing effective offers for the global market

      Any successful plan for foreign economic activity must begin with the production of high-quality, unique products. For this, countries must first of all perfectly determine their internal capabilities, advantages and advantages, as well as the world market situation. In most cases, copying existing goods and services in the market can deter new entrants from entering the market. Because experienced manufacturing countries that have already established themselves in the market have a higher advantage. If the goods that are necessary and relevant for the current period are delivered to the world market, and there is a special development strategy for this, several advantages can be achieved as a result.

    2. Excellent analysis of foreign market opportunities

       Creating a separate strategy for global markets requires extensive market research. In this regard, a country that wants to enter the world markets, that is, Uzbekistan, should thoroughly study and analyze the situation in the international market, improve its capabilities, study the strength of its competitors in the world with equal status and, most importantly, bring it to this market. Having studied the demand and supply for the product he wants to enter, he should develop a unique business proposal that is worthwhile for the world market.

    3. Use of modern logistics services

       Supply chain issues such as management and logistics are of great importance in entering global markets. When exporting goods directly or selling goods to foreign buyers, whether the delivery address is familiar or new, the main task required of the seller is to ensure that the goods are delivered safely and reliably at the lowest possible transport costs. consists of delivery without If it is possible to win the trust of the buyer, this will be one of the main steps taken to enter the world markets.

    4. Compliance with generally recognized norms of international law

       There are 3 main types of legal considerations when entering the global market. That is:

– the main internal laws of the country;

– the laws of the partner country;

– laws regulating international market relations.

One of the most important requirements is to always follow the above 3 main laws and conduct foreign economic activities in the world market based on these rules. Of course, it is also important to involve a strong legal team. Even a country that wants to conduct foreign economic activity will not be harmed by the help of such a strong legal team, because they are aware of the latest and most important news that is happening in this country.

   5. Establish strong relationships with strategic partners

      Finding strategic local partners from the country of foreign economic activity can be a solution to the problems encountered in most cases. Having reliable connections and a network of partners to avoid problems such as opening new offices in a partner country, expanding business, and eliminating logistics and trade gaps can facilitate such difficult processes. Qualified local partners can provide reasonable assistance in dealing with the disadvantages of working in a new location.

     6. Reduction of taxes and granting of tax benefits

        Changing the amount of taxes can in some cases benefit both consumers and producers. For example, a change in export or import duties allows consumers to buy goods at lower prices, allows producers to export or import more of these goods, and producers can use the profits to renew their capital. All these actions increase efficiency, which helps to develop the economy.

    7. Existing infrastructure to promote economic growth

        The role of infrastructure facilities that help the movement of goods and services and deliver them to the consumer in the most convenient way is incomparable, they are the basis of the market economy. It means having an effective infrastructure and providing half income. Spending on infrastructure will pay for itself twice and ensure economic development. Infrastructural facilities should be created and put into operation not only by the state but also by private sector initiatives in the market economy.

     8. Insuring risks and having immunity against them

        Diversification of the market and sales methods, goods, and services in the world market is the best opportunity to insure risks and have immunity against them. In most cases, prioritizing orientation to the domestic market reduces resistance to competition in the world market and weakens innovative activity. Focusing more on global markets in their external economic activities than domestic markets can provide long-term effective economic growth. Updating product types and assortments, creating new markets, and bringing sales methods to the level of customer orientation also serve as the basis for obtaining high income.

         In conclusion, it can be said that the success and economic growth of Uzbekistan in the world market outweigh the difficulties of doing business in the international arena. There are ways to promote the foreign economic activity of Uzbekistan in the world markets, apart from the above-mentioned points, but if all of them are combined and carried out effectively as a single strategic model, Uzbekistan will also take high positions in the world markets and achieve success.

List of used literature:

1. Principles of Economics, 6thEdition.N. Gregory Mankiw. ISBN 13: 978-0-538-45305-9.  USA, textbook. 2012. Cengage Learning. 890 p.
2. World economy and international economic relations. Textbook, ed. A.S. Bulatova. Moscow.: KNORUS, – 2017, 916 pages.
3. Information of the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. T.: 2022. www.stat.uz

---

[1] Principles of Economics, 6-Edition.N. Gregory Mankiw. ISBN 13: 978-0-538-45305-9.  USA. 2012. Cengage Learning. Page 686.

[2] Source: Information of the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. T.: 2022

METHODS OF INTRODUCING INNOVATIVE PEDAGOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION
Teaching English to Medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Baxtiyorova Nozima Atabek qizi

 Student of group 2212, the 3rd English faculty, UzSWLU

Abstract. Governments restricted face-to-face classes during the  COVID-19 pandemic. However, education must be an ongoing process, and the epidemic caused numerous issues in the educational system. Learning foreign languages, particularly English, has become increasingly important in recent years. As a result, the Department of Foreign Languages at Tehran University of Medical Sciences reacted to the new circumstances and devised effective techniques for teaching English to their students online.

Keywords: English language teaching, COVID-19 pandemic, virtual learning, learning management system.

    Relevance of the study English has grown in popularity in the modern era of communication, where expressing one’s views can lead to global integration. Because of the requirement for detail, this field has increased. The primary language utilized to communicate medical essentials is English (Faraj, 2015). According to Milosavljevi (2008), medical professionals and researchers must learn. English to teach in English, to be instructed in English, and to publish their findings in English. Some assessments indicate that the quality of English used in medical contexts, such as classroom instruction, research articles, and courses, has been steadily improving (Hwang & Lin, 2010). Because most scientific, academic, and technical information is communicated in English, English is vital in medicine (Creswell, 2013). As a result, finding means to boost English language training for students of medical and healthcare professions is critical (Milosavljevi, 2008). As previously said, English is the language of choice in global healthcare; consequently, a strong command of the English language is essential to access critical scientific and medical information (Heming & Nandagopal, 2012). Aside from conducting research and gaining knowledge, additional factors demonstrate the importance of the English language in medical education.

    In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic. As of August 7, 2021, a total of 200,840,180 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 4,265,903 deaths have been reported globally. Reportedly it originally started in December 2019 in China, yet the first officially documented cases of the disease in Iran were announced on February 19, 2020. In order to control the spread rate of the infection in Iran, the Government decided to close all universities as part of a plan to encourage people to stay at home. As a result, TUMS had to cancel all the face-to-face classes, and as the exact date for the resolution of this calamity could not be determined, education had to continue virtually.

    In 2017, TUMS had already launched a Learning Management System (LMS), called NAVID, as an essential infrastructure for the establishment and development of e-learning. Now NAVID has different facilities for students and professors. Professors and students can see and monitor their current and previous courses, and as an important feature, it allows professors to receive different kinds of reports including all of their activities, students’ collective and individual activities in each course, students’ assignments, assessment of and feedback on the assignments, all the exams’ reports, and the students’ scores and performance in each exam. Professors upload the resources and materials for the students in the ‘Resources and Content Section’ where different types of resources and the prepared teaching materials can be uploaded in a variety of formats. In the ‘Homework Section’, professors can give the assignments and set a deadline for the submission of each assignment. Students can upload their assignments in different forms, namely audio, video, photo, or text, depending on the assignment and the instructions given by the professors. Here professors can give feedback to the students both individually and as a group.

    NAVID allows the professors to design and take various kinds of tests and examinations. Moreover, the ‘Conversation and Messages’ Section allows students and professors to raise questions and discuss ideas. The ‘Class Section’ provides professors and students with the opportunity to arrange for synchronous sessions.

    Since the beginning of the outbreak, in the Spring and Summer semesters of the academic year 2019-2020, and the Fall semester of the academic year 2020-2021, about 4,000 students participated in 183 classes which were administered through NAVID. In order to ensure the quality of education, four working groups were formed by the Department, and the part-time lecturers were asked to join the working groups based on the courses they taught. A full-time member of the faculty took on the responsibility of leading a working group. In these groups, part-time lecturers were asked to report in the written form (based on a certain format) at least two times during the semester to the head of each group. The lecturers could use these working groups to raise questions, discuss ideas with peers and also the head of the group, receive suggestions, and find solutions for the raised issues. The reports of the working groups were compiled by the head of the group and then submitted to the Chair of the Department of the Foreign Languages.

    As teaching has been affected during the pandemic, so has the students’ assessment. Since the academic year 2018-2019, the written summative examinations of English language courses offered by TUMS Department of Foreign Languages were held in TUMS Test Centre electronically, such that students attended the examination sessions in person and took the test online. In the first and second semesters of the academic year 2019-2020, however, the final examinations were held centrally and electronically, but virtually and remotely.

    Students and professors should take advantage of this opportunity to acquaint themselves with, and acquire the skills and competencies needed for, the new era. The pandemic seems to have opened new windows for teaching and learning. Bringing the future into the present and changing our views and attitudes towards virtual and distance education and moving in line with the technology dependent world in the right direction can prove to be a blessing in disguise.

References

1. Kao GYM. Enhancing the quality of peer review by reducing student “free riding”: Peer assessment with positive interdependence. British Journal of Educational Technology, (2013); 44(1): 112-124. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2011.01278
2. Price M, Carroll J, O’Donovan B, Rust C. If I was going there I wouldn’t start from here: Acritical commentary on current assessment practice. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, (2011); 36(4): 479-492. doi:10.1080/02602930903512883
3. Shabani, E.A., Panahi, J. (2021). An Account of Teaching English to Medical Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Academia Letters, Article 3587. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL3587
4. Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) – Office of Vice-Chancellor for Education;2020. Available from https://www.tums.ac.ir/content/details/377?lang=fa
5. Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) – Statistics and Information Technology Center. TUMS Abstract of Yearbook. Tehran, Iran: TUMS; 2019. Available from https://sit.tums.ac.ir/uploads/2/2020/Aug/09/Abstract%20of%20yearbook98(6).pdf
6. Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE). The impact of coronavirus on higher education; 2021. Available from  https://www.timeshighereducation.com/hub/keystone-academic-solutions/p/impact-coronavirus-higher-education
7. Times Higher Education World University Ranking (THE). Times Higher Education’s Digital Teaching Survey results; 2020. Available from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/times-higher-educations-digital-teaeching-survey-results
8. Uto M, Ueno M. Item response theory for peer assessment. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, (2016); 9(2): 157-170. doi:10.1109/TLT.2015.2476806
9. World Health Organization. WHO coronavirus disease (COVID-19) dashboard; 2020. Available from https://covid19.who.int/