Marian Mahat – författare

The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly tested the resilience of academics in higher education. Many universities were severely affected by reduced student enrolment, with widespread job losses reported across universities. For many academics, the impact of the pandemic has been worrying, financially crippling and overwhelming.

The virus has also exposed academic inequalities and impacted heavily on vulnerable people. The individual and collective heroic spirit of many academics has been nothing short of extraordinary. Overcoming the initial hurdles of COVID-19 takes one kind of energy; the resilience needed to remain engaged despite the continuing changes and uncertainties is quite another challenge. It is one that demands sustained resilience.

This timely book provides perspectives across disciplines, career stages and global contexts on how to develop resilience in academia. These personal stories may empower others not only to survive, but to thrive in times of adversity.

The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly tested the resilience of academics in higher education. Many universities were severely affected by reduced student enrolment, with widespread job losses reported across universities. For many academics, the impact of the pandemic has been worrying, financially crippling and overwhelming.

The virus has also exposed academic inequalities and impacted heavily on vulnerable people. The individual and collective heroic spirit of many academics has been nothing short of extraordinary. Overcoming the initial hurdles of COVID-19 takes one kind of energy; the resilience needed to remain engaged despite the continuing changes and uncertainties is quite another challenge. It is one that demands sustained resilience.

This timely book provides perspectives across disciplines, career stages and global contexts on how to develop resilience in academia. These personal stories may empower others not only to survive, but to thrive in times of adversity.

The global COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed education as we know it. Globally, billions of learners at all levels were affected by months of rolling school closures and other severe pandemic restrictions to daily life. Magnifying issues of educational equity, access, and opportunity, this unprecedented global crisis forced Deans, and academic and professional staff in schools of education to make decisions for learning, teaching, research, and engagement in a fast-changing landscape. These decisions reshaped schools of education and the lives and experiences of staff and students in powerful ways.

Building a Better Normal captures education scholars’ reflections on the decision-making and impacts of their experiences from 2020 to 2023. Uniquely, the volume brings together Education Deans and scholars from Universitas 21 institutions. Drawing on case studies and narrative reflections, the contributors offer crucial insights that can guide higher education and schools of education on structural and conceptual shifts in approaches to leadership, research, teaching, learning, and student and staff well-being.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a generation-defining event that will echo in the actions of teachers and researchers for years, allowing us to redefine the landscape of education for a better normal.

The global COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed education as we know it. Globally, billions of learners at all levels were affected by months of rolling school closures and other severe pandemic restrictions to daily life. Magnifying issues of educational equity, access, and opportunity, this unprecedented global crisis forced Deans, and academic and professional staff in schools of education to make decisions for learning, teaching, research, and engagement in a fast-changing landscape. These decisions reshaped schools of education and the lives and experiences of staff and students in powerful ways.

Building a Better Normal captures education scholars’ reflections on the decision-making and impacts of their experiences from 2020 to 2023. Uniquely, the volume brings together Education Deans and scholars from Universitas 21 institutions. Drawing on case studies and narrative reflections, the contributors offer crucial insights that can guide higher education and schools of education on structural and conceptual shifts in approaches to leadership, research, teaching, learning, and student and staff well-being.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a generation-defining event that will echo in the actions of teachers and researchers for years, allowing us to redefine the landscape of education for a better normal.

Around the world, schools and school systems are spending billions of dollars in the design and build of learning environments that are equipped with innovative design elements. Through an iterative process of teacher-led inquiry, educators are transforming their pedagogical practice to use student-centred learning environments that are deemed to better suit the collaborative, creative, critical thinking, communication-focused characteristics required of students in a rapidly changing world.

Drawing on case studies from Australia, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore, Teacher-led Inquiry in School Learning Environments provides the voices, perspectives and reflections of educators as they traverse into their new learning environments whether a refurbishment, a prototype or as part of a built masterplan. Written by educators for educators, the book is a powerful form of evidence-based, job-embedded professional learning. It contributes to the ongoing development of the education profession not only by using research findings to inform teachers’ practices and professional learning, but also by sharing these findings with peers, policymakers, and the broader community.

The Linking Theory and Practice in Learning Environments series closes the gap between the theory and practice of learning environments by bringing together new research focused on the various aspects of learning environments.

Around the world, schools and school systems are spending billions of dollars in the design and build of learning environments that are equipped with innovative design elements. Through an iterative process of teacher-led inquiry, educators are transforming their pedagogical practice to use student-centred learning environments that are deemed to better suit the collaborative, creative, critical thinking, communication-focused characteristics required of students in a rapidly changing world.

Drawing on case studies from Australia, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore, Teacher-led Inquiry in School Learning Environments provides the voices, perspectives and reflections of educators as they traverse into their new learning environments whether a refurbishment, a prototype or as part of a built masterplan. Written by educators for educators, the book is a powerful form of evidence-based, job-embedded professional learning. It contributes to the ongoing development of the education profession not only by using research findings to inform teachers’ practices and professional learning, but also by sharing these findings with peers, policymakers, and the broader community.

The Linking Theory and Practice in Learning Environments series closes the gap between the theory and practice of learning environments by bringing together new research focused on the various aspects of learning environments.