Care, Community and Curriculum: a Case Study of an Academic Professional Development Programme

In March 2020, teaching and learning (T&L) in higher education pivoted online and in 2021 the disruption to traditional formsofteaching, learning and assessment continues. Like many other academic development programmes, our PG Cert programme pivoted online effectively and efficiently. Programme evaluation data (June 2020)reported that modelling of online teaching and learning within our programme helped lecturers teach online, facilitate peer interaction among their students and assisted informed change in assessment practices to suit the online context.At the heart of our programme’s ethos lies a commitment to community building among students. However, the art of gathering is more than bringing students into a virtual room. Design and careful planning is necessary to elevate a learning experience from modes of presence to participation and to foster a sense of belonging for students within that learning environment. Also given the Pandemic context, a period where the effects of isolation from other people and society were felt acutely, the programme team felt it vital that time was designated for check-ins with participants of the learning environment. Bali (2020) advocates a Pedagogy of care, an approach that demonstrates a genuine concern for students’ wellbeing and life experiences

Care, community and curriculum: a case study of an academic professional development programme.

In March 2020, teaching and learning (T&L) in higher education pivoted online and in 2021 the disruption to traditional forms of teaching, learning and assessment continues. Like many other academic development programmes, our PG Cert programme pivoted online effectively and efficiently. Programme evaluation data (June 2020) reported that modelling of online teaching and learning within our programme helped lecturers teach online, facilitate peer interaction among their students and assisted informed change in assessment practices to suit the online context. At the heart of our programme’s ethos lies a commitment to community building among students. However, the art of gathering is more than bringing students into a virtual room. Design and careful planning is necessary to elevate a learning experience from modes of presence to participation and to foster a sense of belonging for students within that learning environment. Also given the Pandemic context, a period where the effects of isolation from other people and society were felt acutely, the programme team felt it vital that time was designated for check-ins with participants of the learning environment. Bali (2020) advocates a Pedagogy of care, an approach that demonstrates a genuine concern for students’ wellbeing and life experiences. This exploratory case study examines how the pivot to online teaching on our Postgraduate (PG) Certificate in University Learning and Teaching has impacted on teaching practices of academic staff across the disciplines undertaking the programme. We wish to investigate if and how community building and care was subsequently implemented in the learning environments of academic staff who undertook the PG Cert. Secondly, to inspect what T&L practices, with a focus on the pedagogy of care, that might remain in place in a post pandemic university. Thirdly, to investigate if fully online learning is suitable and viable for the PG Certificate which values community, professional relationships and shared practice. Lastly, this disruptive change to online teaching necessitates the investigation of the future teaching development needs for lecturers teaching in online and blended spaces. Also, in our context, as an emerging technological university, through our experiences and research we propose some recommendations for the university to consider at a strategic level in support of the development of teaching and learning practice in a post digital higher education environment

Supporting Student Engagement and Partnership in Higher Education Decision-Making during the Pandemic: A reflection from the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP)

This reflective article was drawn together from the experiences of student and staff team members at the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP) during the period of the initial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Irish higher education, and is supported by the work of national partner organisations in assessing that impact. The article examines some of the key challenges for student engagement in decision-making in higher education institutions, as well as the way in which student partnerships may change and emerge as a result

Social Isolation and Mental Health at Primary and Secondary School Entry:A Longitudinal Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: We tested whether children who are socially isolated early in their schooling develop mental health problems in early adolescence, taking into account their mental health and family risk at school entry. METHOD: We used data from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a birth cohort of 2,232 children born in England and Wales in 1994 and 1995. We measured social isolation using mothers’ and teachers’ reports at ages 5 and 12 years. We assessed mental health symptoms via mothers’ and teachers’ ratings at age 5 and self-report measures at age 12. We collected mother-reported information about the family environment when children were 5 years old. We conducted regression analyses to test concurrent and longitudinal associations between early family factors, social isolation, and mental health difficulties. RESULTS: At both primary and secondary school, children who were socially isolated experienced greater mental health difficulties. Children with behavioral problems or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms at age 5 years had an elevated risk of becoming more socially isolated at age 12. However, children who were isolated at age 5 did not have greater mental health symptoms at age 12, over and above pre-existing difficulties. CONCLUSION: Although social isolation and mental health problems co-occur in childhood, early isolation does not predict worse mental health problems later on. However, children who exhibit problematic behaviors may struggle to cope with the social challenges that accompany their progression through the early school years